Iraqi PM makes first official visit to Iran in bid to deepen ties

Ali al-Zaidi holds talks with senior Iranian officials on bilateral cooperation, shared interests and security.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is in Iran on his first official visit since assuming office in May.

The Iraqi News Agency (INA) on Thursday said al-Zaidi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian oversaw the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) pertaining to foreign affairs, finance, the economy and energy in Tehran.

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The talks between the two leaders were aimed at strengthening strategic cooperation, accelerate joint economic and infrastructure projects, and coordinate on regional developments, including the implementation of the US-Iran MoU.

Speaking at a joint meeting of senior Iranian and Iraqi delegations in Tehran, al-Zaidi thanked Iran for helping Iraq in its fight against the ISIL (ISIS) group, and reaffirmed his country’s commitment to security cooperation with Tehran, saying that Iraq would not accept hostile action against Iran by any party.

“Iraq will never forget Iran’s support in the fight against the [ISIL/ISIL] terrorist group,” he said, according to Pezeshkian’s office.

Pezeshkian said a comprehensive strategic cooperation plan would serve as a roadmap for expanding relations between Tehran and Baghdad, stressing that the security of the two neighbouring countries was closely linked.

In a joint statement issued at the end of al-Zaidi’s visit, Iran and Iraq said regional crises can only be resolved through dialogue, diplomacy and constructive engagement among regional countries, reaffirming their support for peaceful political solutions based on the principles of international law.

The two countries also agreed to draft a comprehensive long-term strategic cooperation agreement and accelerate the implementation of existing bilateral accords. The statement said the two countries would deepen cooperation across political, economic, security and cultural fields, with their foreign ministers tasked with finalising the draft strategic document for signature by the two governments.

Iran and Iraq also agreed to expand trade and joint investments, speed up the Basra-Shalamcheh railway project, strengthen cooperation in banking, energy, transport and transit, and remove legal and administrative obstacles to joint projects.

The two nations also agreed to hold their Joint High Commission annually, alternating between Tehran and Baghdad under the leadership of the two prime ministers, to oversee the implementation of bilateral agreements.

Iraq remains heavily reliant on Iranian natural gas and electricity, while bilateral trade exceeds $12bn annually, making it one of Iran’s largest trading partners.

A deep religious bond also exists between the two countries, as millions of Iranian Shia pilgrims cross the border to visit Iraq’s holy sites every year. During the week-long funeral held for Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier this month, the procession travelled through the Iraqi Shia pilgrimage cities of Najaf and Karbala.

The Iranian government has also cultivated close ties with influential Shia parties and armed groups in Iraq that form the backbone of Iraq’s security forces.

Political analyst Ghaleb Al-Daami told Al Jazeera that al-Zaidi’s visit came as Baghdad tries the difficult task of maintaining relations with both the warring parties, the United States and Iran.

Al-Daami said the main objectives of al-Zaidi’s visit were to tell Iran to stop its support for armed groups in Iraq and to deliver a message from the US, which has expressed support for Iraq acting as a mediator amid the US war on Iran.

The joint statement by Iran and Iraq also reaffirmed support for the Palestinian people and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.