Iraqi Kurdistan - Iran (Bashmax/Marivan) crossing

[steven]

Please read and post reports on the Bashmakh – Penjwen border crossing between Iraq and Iran below.

We summarize all info on the Iran border crossings page.

[tatterdemalion]

Exiting Iraq: simple, ensure you enter the smaller exit building and within ten minutes you'll be stamped out.

Entering Iran: security checked luggage and visa, pulled out computer, got me to login and then took it away.
Once the luggage search was complete they brought me in check the computer with them, they had already tried to view pictures and videos but couldn't operate the file manager I have.
They were very serious the first five minutes until they realised I had nothing untoward on the machine or liked me - my jumping around from being stung by a wasp while my luggage was being checked seemed to have a good effect. They spent the next 40 minutes asking questions using google translate on my phone, as well as making various statements about Iran - women are respected, no Daesh in Iran, etc. The unusual questions were quite interesting - "would you betray your girlfriend?", "why are you not married yet?" but all in all no problems.
Walked off thinking that I'd completed the crossing but realised on walking into the next building they were just the security.
30 minutes wait until passport stamed, then X-ray, followed by a 20 minute check my phone's photos (initially a check for the entry stamp).

[tatterdemalion]

Iran re-opens border crossing with Iraqi Kurdistan region: state media

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran ... SKBN1CU0UK

[Globetrotting Diana]

Here is my report on the Bashmakh – Penjwen border-crossing. My story is quite unusual but it can give you an idea about how easy it is. https://www.theglobetrottingdetective.c ... rcrossing/