Iranian FM stresses need for ‘full implementation’ of Tehran-Baghdad agreements

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran’s foreign minister on Wednesday met with the country’s top diplomat to Iraq, stressing the need for the “full implementation” of the agreements between Tehran and Baghdad.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian received Iran’s ambassador to Iraq Mohammad Kazem Al-e Sadeq in Tehran, discussing the progress of cooperation and bilateral between the two neighboring countries.

“There is the need of the full implementation of the agreements and documents signed between the high officials of the two countries in order to further enhance the bilateral cooperation,” Iranian state media cited Amir-Abdollahian as saying during the meeting.

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.

A security pact signed between Iran and Iraq in March 2023 saw Baghdad agree to disarm Iranian-Kurdish opposition groups and secure the border regions. Iran had threatened to use military action if Baghdad failed to fulfill the agreement.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said in October that Iraq has not yet fully implemented all the provisions of the security pact, but stressed that both Erbil and Baghdad remain committed to implementing the agreement.

Both countries also share a strong economic relationship.

Iraq’s electrical grid has for years been dependent on importing gas from Iran. The two countries signed an agreement in July which will see Baghdad paying for imported gas from Tehran using its crude oil