Russia closed border with Iran since March 7 due to coronavirus

Since March 7, Russia has closed the border with Iran "in order to ensure state security, protect public health and not spread a new coronavirus infection (2019-nCoV) in the Russian Federation."

The corresponding decree was signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on March 6, and it was published on the government’s website.

"The FSB of Russia from 00:00 local time on March 7, 2020, temporarily suspend the passage through the state border of the Russian Federation of foreign citizens and stateless persons arriving from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, entering the territory of the Russian Federation," the document says.

The Federal Air Transport Agency is instructed to inform Aeroflot and other airlines about the temporary ban on the transportation of foreign citizens from Iran through the territory of the Russian Federation.

The Foreign Ministry must notify Tehran of the taken measures, emphasizing that the measures are "justified by special circumstances and are exclusively temporary," the order says.

Also, the foreign ministry should temporarily suspend the receipt of documents, registration and issuance of visas to foreign citizens and stateless persons who live in Iran or arrive from this country.