Iran and Iraq strengthen ties with series of agreements amid regional turmoil
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (C) attends the signing ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding between Iraqi Minister of Trade, Atheer Dawood (R) and Iranian Minister of Economic and Finance Affairs Minister Abdolnaser Hemmati (L) at the government palace in Baghdad, on September 11, 2024. (AFP Photo)
Iran and Iraq signed over a dozen cooperation agreements on Wednesday, marking a deepening of ties as Masoud Pezeshkian, on his first foreign trip as president of the Islamic Republic, visited Baghdad. The visit comes at a time of heightened tension in the Middle East due to the ongoing war in Gaza, which has entangled Iran-backed armed groups and strained Iraq’s relations with the United States.
During a press conference alongside Pezeshkian, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani emphasized both governments’ opposition to any expansion of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. “In light of the escalation that the region has been going through, we have spoken a lot about the importance of stability,” Sudani said, pointing to Israel as the source of the regional unrest.
Pezeshkian echoed these sentiments, announcing that 14 memorandums of cooperation were signed between the two countries. “This is the starting point of the expansion of cooperation,” Pezeshkian said. “If we are together, we will avoid falling into the fire.”
