US evacuation of Ain al-Asad base strengthens Iraq’s national sovereignty: Araghchi

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the withdrawal of US military forces from Iraq’s Ain al-Asad base will strengthen Iraq’s national sovereignty, describing the move as a clear sign of growing independence and stability in the Arab country.

Araghchi was speaking on Sunday during a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein, following their meeting in Tehran, where the two sides discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments.

“The withdrawal of US military forces from the Ain al-Asad base and the end of the UNAMI mission are clear indications of the consolidation of independence, stability, and national sovereignty in Iraq,” Araghchi said.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has always sought a strong and independent Iraq and believes that the country has the necessary capacities to play a key role in regional peace and stability.”

He noted that the meeting came after elections in Iraq and marked a new step toward planning the development of relations between the two countries.

“The regional role of Iraq is on an upward trajectory, and our Iraqi friends have shown that they can play a positive role in dialogue and resolving problems,” he said, adding that the two sides had discussed proposals that could be designed jointly to advance peace in the region.

Araghchi also said Iran and Iraq were seeking to reach a “strategic cooperation agreement,” reiterating that Tehran supports “a stable Iraq with independent political sovereignty.”

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Iran, Iraq security intertwined with regional security: Hussein

For his part, Hussein said security in Iraq and Iran was inseparable from the security of the wider region.

“We believe that the security of Iraq and Iran is part of the region’s security. The security of the Iranian people is important to us, just as the security of the region is important,” he said.

Hussein said regional officials he met ahead of his trip to Tehran had emphasized that regional security was interconnected.

Iran and Iraq agreed on the “indivisibility of regional security,” the need for non-interference in internal affairs, and the continuation of consultations to address regional challenges, he added.

He also said that he was informed about the situation in Iran, in the wake of deadly foreign-backed riots across the country.

Some shopkeepers last month staged peaceful protests in different Iranian cities over economic grievances, which are directly linked to unilateral US sanctions.

The demonstrations, however, were steered toward violence after public statements by US and Israeli regime figures encouraged vandalism and disorder.

During the unrest, foreign-backed armed rioters damaged public property and caused casualties among civilians and security forces.

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