Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Iran's police chief has said the country may temporarily ban its citizens' traveling to holy Iraqi cities due to security concerns.

Esmaeel Ahmadi Moghaddam said no decision on the issue has been made as yet, adding that if the Supreme National Security Council decides to suspend pilgrimage to Iraq, police will implement the decision, Iran's Mehr news agency reported.

An estimated 6,000 Iranian pilgrims cross the border into Iraq every day.

The situation in the northern territory of Iran's western neighbor, Iraq sharply escalated last week. Nearly 60 people were killed as a result of numerous clashes between Iraqi security forces and militants near the city of Mosul. Members of the al-Qaeda-linked Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) took control of Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city.

ISIL headed south June 11 and attacked parts of the city of Kirkuk. Iraqi officials said the Iraqi army regained some control of two cities, Baji and Shirqat, in the Salahuddin province of northern Iraq, which was earlier seized by ISIL.

Iran's police chief Ahmadi Moghaddam also went on to say that security measures have been intensified along the borders with Iraq.

Besides deputy head of Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization Naser Khedernejad has said following the recent developments in Iraq, the organization has decided to suspend sending pilgrims to Kadhimiya, a northern neighborhood of Baghdad.

Khedernejad went on to note that all flights from Iran to Baghdad will be halted from June 12, adding that Najaf air port will be used as an alternative to Baghdad for Iranian flights.

Iran has already banned pilgrimage to Iraq's Samarra city due to security concerns.