The Prime Minister of Iraq and Iran’s President vows to curb terrorism and extend bilateral economic cooperation
TEHRAN: During Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s first-ever visit to Iran on Tuesday, he met with Iran’s Prime Minister and leaders of both Islamic states vowed to curb terrorism and intensify bilateral economic cooperation.
President Ebrahim Raisi received Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who expressed the hope to strengthen the connection between the two Muslim states.
Iraq’s Prime Minister came to power last month, after a year of fighting between political parties to form a government following general elections in October 2021.
Iran’s President Raisi while speaking at a joint press talk said: “From our point of view and that of the Iraq’s , security, peace, cooperation and regional stability are very important”.
“Therefore, the fight against terrorist outfits, organized crime, drugs and other insecurity that threatens the region rests on the common will of our two countries,” he said.
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Iraq’s PM said that “our government is determined not to allow any group or outfit to use the territory of for terrorism and to damage and undermine Iran’s security.”
Since nationwide protests broke out in Iran more than two months ago, Iranian officials have accused Kurdish opposition groups exiled from northern Iraq of fomenting unrest and the Islamic Republic has launched repeated deadly attacks.
Such attacks – aimed at Iranian-Kurdish groups in Kurdistan region – resumed this month, even after Iraq’s central government summoned Iran’s ambassador in late September to complain about the bombing. Rats and drones killed at least seven people.
Iraq announced last week that it would move federal security forces to the border between Kurdistan and Iran, rather than abandoning the role of Kurdish peshmerga forces, a move welcomed by Tehran.
Iraqi PM Sudani added that the national security advisers of the two countries will hold talks to “create a working system for coordination on the ground to avoid any conflict”.
Sudani also thanked Iran for the continuous supply of gas and electricity, while pointing to the issue of the “system”.
Iranian President Raisi said that banking, finance, and broader trade issues were also discussed and that the dialogue between the two partners “will help to resolve both issues.”
