PM Sudani to visit Tehran Wednesday

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani will visit Tehran on Wednesday to discuss regional developments and bilateral ties, his office said on Sunday.

“The official visit will include discussions on bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to strengthen them, building on the progress made during the visit of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Baghdad in September of last year,” said a statement from Sudani’s office.

Sudani’s visit will also focus on “addressing the latest regional developments,” his office added.

On Tuesday, Iran’s foreign ministry said that the visit will be “in line with ongoing consultations between Iran and Iraq to expand bilateral relations and discuss regional developments.”

Iran and Iraq have shared a strong relationship since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Tehran has since increased its influence over Baghdad, and the country has dozens of armed groups who are affiliated with the Shiite rule in Tehran.

During a visit to Iraq in September, Iran’s President Pezeshkian said that the Islamic republic has plans to further improve its ties with Baghdad.

Both Tehran and Baghdad were strong supporters of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which was toppled by a coalition of Islamist-led rebel groups on December 8 following a blistering offensive.

Days before Assad’s collapse, the foreign ministers of Iraq, Syria, and Iran met in Baghdad to discuss the developments in Syria and reiterate support for the Syrian regime in an effort to prevent its collapse.