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Jordan Closes Border with Syria over Spike in COVID-19 Cases

Jordanian border crossing, Jaber is seen in the city of Mafraq, Jordan (File photo: Reuters)
Jordanian border crossing, Jaber is seen in the city of Mafraq, Jordan (File photo: Reuters)
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Jordan Closes Border with Syria over Spike in COVID-19 Cases

Jordanian border crossing, Jaber is seen in the city of Mafraq, Jordan (File photo: Reuters)
Jordanian border crossing, Jaber is seen in the city of Mafraq, Jordan (File photo: Reuters)

Jordan’s Minister of Interior Salama Hammad ordered the closure of Jaber border crossing with Syria for a week.

The decision, effective as of Thursday, comes upon the recommendation of a government committee tasked to run borders and airport affairs.

Hammad said the crossing will be closed and its situation will be assessed to ensure the safety of civilians and staff, state-run Petra news agency reported.

This comes after a number of coronavirus infections were recorded among the staff at the crossing.

Over the past two days, Jordan recorded 25 COVID-19 cases, most of which were detected among arrivals at the border.

The committee asserted the need to complete all procedures to clear all goods at the crossing before its closure.

It also tasked Health Minister Saad Jaber to take the necessary health and preventive measures to isolate workers at the Jaber Border Crossing, in cooperation and coordination with the relevant authorities.

Also, Prime Minister Omar Razzaz announced that local virus infections had reached 25, adding that the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases since Wednesday evening is a “worrisome development” and a source of concern.

Razzaz pointed out that the source of the infection must be verified, as the majority were recorded at the Jaber Border Crossing, noting that authorities must take immediate measures to prevent the virus from spreading.

The PM hoped to overcome this pandemic and the second wave that many countries in the world and the region are facing, calling upon Jordanians to take this issue seriously.

As of Monday, Jordan recorded 1,283 virus cases including 1,189 recoveries and 11 deaths. Also, 66 persons are still receiving treatment in two specialized hospitals.

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Egypt Welcomes Tehran’s Renaming of ‘Islamabouli Street’ as a Turning Point in Relations with Iran

Relations between Egypt and Iran saw a notable thaw following Araghchi’s visit to Cairo (Egyptian Presidency)
Relations between Egypt and Iran saw a notable thaw following Araghchi’s visit to Cairo (Egyptian Presidency)
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Egypt Welcomes Tehran’s Renaming of ‘Islamabouli Street’ as a Turning Point in Relations with Iran

Relations between Egypt and Iran saw a notable thaw following Araghchi’s visit to Cairo (Egyptian Presidency)
Relations between Egypt and Iran saw a notable thaw following Araghchi’s visit to Cairo (Egyptian Presidency)

Egypt has welcomed Iran’s decision to rename a Tehran street once dedicated to Khalid al-Islamabouli - the Egyptian army officer who assassinated President Anwar Sadat in 1981 - describing the move as a significant step toward resetting bilateral relations.

In the first official Egyptian response to the development, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ambassador Tamim Khallaf told Asharq Al-Awsat: “Renaming the street is a positive step in Egyptian-Iranian relations. It helps put matters back on the right track.”

The street, long a source of tension between Cairo and Tehran, has now been renamed after Hassan Nasrallah, the former Secretary-General of Lebanon’s Hezbollah, following a decision by the Tehran City Council.

Iranian media reported that a formal ceremony was held to unveil the new name, attended by officials, intellectuals, and civil society figures. The change was part of a wider initiative that saw 11 streets in the capital renamed last month.

Dr. Hoda Raouf, a Cairo-based expert on Iranian affairs, said the move reflects “a meaningful shift and a clear sign of Iran’s serious intent to restore relations with Egypt.”

She noted that Egyptian-Iranian ties have two key dimensions: regional security - particularly Egypt’s opposition to Iranian interference in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen - and the bilateral relationship, which has long been strained over symbolic gestures such as honoring Sadat’s assassin.

Political philosopher and Iran specialist Dr. Mohamed Khairy echoed that assessment, calling the street name change “a significant development.”

He emphasized that the decision was passed by majority vote and attended by influential figures from Iran’s political establishment, which he said reflects a genuine desire within Iran to repair ties with Cairo.

The gesture comes amid signs of warming relations between the two nations. Iranian top diplomat Abbas Araghchi recently visited Cairo, where he met President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and senior officials.

His visit included a symbolic walk through the historic Khan el-Khalili bazaar, prayers at the Al-Hussein Mosque, and dinner at the famed Naguib Mahfouz restaurant.

Sisi also held a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during the recent Israeli escalation against Iran, in which he affirmed Egypt’s rejection of Israeli attacks on Iranian territory.