Iran’s Raisi invites Iraqi PM to Tehran
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraq’s Prime Minister on Saturday received an invitation to visit Iran and meet with the country’s president days after Iranian airstrikes targeted bases of Kurdish opposition groups located in the Kurdistan Region.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Saturday met with Iranian ambassador to Iraq Mohammad Kazem Ale-Sadeq, during which both sides “highlighted the importance of continuing to hold meetings between Iraq and Iran in the security sector in a manner that preserves the sovereignty of the two countries,” according to a statement from the premier’s office.
The statement added that the Iranian ambassador delivered an invitation from Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Prime Minister Sudani.
The invitation comes as Iran has struck bases of Kurdish opposition parties in the Kurdistan Region at least four times within the past two months, accusing the parties of encouraging and arming the ongoing protests at home.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Friday announced that they were strengthening their forces on the borders with the Kurdistan Region through deploying armored units and special forces, aimed at preventing exiled Kurdish opposition groups from transporting weapons into the country.
The Guards are responsible for the harsh crackdown that is ongoing in Rojhelat where at least 40 protesters have died in the space of a week.
Iran’s continuous attacks on Iraqi land comes as IRGC’s Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani earlier this month threatened of ground operations by Iran against opposition parties taking shelter inside Iraqi land.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Saturday met with Iranian ambassador to Iraq Mohammad Kazem Ale-Sadeq, during which both sides “highlighted the importance of continuing to hold meetings between Iraq and Iran in the security sector in a manner that preserves the sovereignty of the two countries,” according to a statement from the premier’s office.
The statement added that the Iranian ambassador delivered an invitation from Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Prime Minister Sudani.
The invitation comes as Iran has struck bases of Kurdish opposition parties in the Kurdistan Region at least four times within the past two months, accusing the parties of encouraging and arming the ongoing protests at home.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Friday announced that they were strengthening their forces on the borders with the Kurdistan Region through deploying armored units and special forces, aimed at preventing exiled Kurdish opposition groups from transporting weapons into the country.
The Guards are responsible for the harsh crackdown that is ongoing in Rojhelat where at least 40 protesters have died in the space of a week.
Iran’s continuous attacks on Iraqi land comes as IRGC’s Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani earlier this month threatened of ground operations by Iran against opposition parties taking shelter inside Iraqi land.