Iraqi PM makes first official visit to Iran to deepen ties

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi travelled to Iran for an official visit, his first since assuming office in May. During the two-day engagement, al-Zaidi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian oversaw the signing of multiple agreements and memoranda of understanding covering foreign affairs, finance, economic matters, and energy sectors, according to the Iraqi News Agency.

At a joint meeting of senior delegations from both nations in Tehran, al-Zaidi expressed gratitude for Iran's assistance in Iraq's conflict against the ISIL terrorist group and pledged Iraq's continued commitment to security cooperation with Tehran. He stated that Iraq would not tolerate hostile actions against Iran from any party. Pezeshkian responded by proposing a comprehensive strategic cooperation plan to serve as a framework for deepening bilateral relations, emphasizing that the security of both neighbouring countries remained interconnected.

The visit encompassed discussions with other senior Iranian officials on matters of mutual concern, regional developments, and efforts to strengthen security and stability across the region. Al-Zaidi highlighted the historic, civilizational, and geographic bonds between Iraq and Iran, calling for sustained engagement through dialogue and cooperation to advance sustainable development and prosperity for both populations.

Economically, Iraq depends significantly on Iranian natural gas and electricity supplies, while annual bilateral trade exceeds $12 billion, positioning Iran among Iraq's largest trading partners. Religious ties also bind the nations, as millions of Iranian Shia pilgrims annually visit Iraqi holy sites. The Iranian government maintains close relationships with influential Shia political parties and armed groups that form core components of Iraq's security apparatus.

According to political analyst Ghaleb Al-Daami, al-Zaidi's visit reflected Baghdad's challenging effort to balance relations with both the United States and Iran. Al-Daami indicated that key objectives included urging Iran to cease support for armed groups operating in Iraq and conveying messages from the United States.