Iran
Iran’s acting foreign minister Ali Bagheri Kani (center) shakes hand with an Iraqi soldier at the memorial site of Soleimani and Muhandis near Baghdad airport on June 13, 2024. Photo: Mehr News Agency
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran’s acting foreign minister Ali Bagheri Kani on Thursday arrived in the Iraqi capital Baghdad for a two-day trip, during which he is also set to visit the Kurdistan Region and discuss ways to strengthen bilateral ties.
Bagheri was received by Mohammed Hussein Bahr al-Uloom, the Iraqi foreign ministry undersecretary for bilateral relations, at Baghdad International Airport, and is set to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, President Abdul Latif Rashid, and other top officials.
The Iranian top diplomat kicked off his trip by visiting the memorial site of the slain Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Qasem Soleimani and deputy chief of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who were killed in a US strike near Baghdad airport in 2020.
Bagheri is scheduled to visit Erbil and Sulaimani as well, and meet with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani, and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani.
“The common interests of the two friendly and brotherly nations, dealing with security challenges and threats, the security of regional countries, and consultation on regional and international will be high on the agenda of talks between the top Iranian diplomat and Iraqi officials,” Iranian state media said regarding Bagheri’s visit.
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 to the Shiite rule in Tehran.
Both countries also share a strong economic relationship.
A veteran nuclear negotiator and Iran’s former deputy foreign minister, Bagheri took office after former Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian died in a helicopter crash alongside former President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions on May 19, in the Varzaghan region of East Azerbaijan province.
It will be his first visit to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region since taking the helms at the foreign ministry and is a part of his ongoing tour to the Middle East.
Last week, Bagheri visited Lebanon and Syria, where he met with senior leaders such as Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to discuss the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.
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