Qalibaf arrives in Baghdad, hails ‘unbreakable’ Iran-Iraq bonds

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday at the head of a high-ranking parliamentary delegation for talks with senior Iraqi officials on strengthening bilateral ties, regional developments, border security, counterterrorism and economic cooperation.

Qalibaf was received upon his arrival by First Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament  Adnan Fayhan.

The visit comes as Tehran and Baghdad have stepped up high-level contacts in recent weeks, with the two sides seeking to further strengthen their strategic partnership and expand cooperation across political, economic and security fields.

During his visit, Qalibaf is scheduled to meet with senior Iraqi officials and other high-ranking figures to discuss enhancing bilateral relations, border security, counterterrorism efforts, expanding economic cooperation, and implementing existing bilateral agreements.

Ahead of his trip, Qalibaf said in an Arabic-language X post on Wednesday that the relationship between the two peoples has been shaped by their shared experience as neighbors and their support for each other during difficult periods.

"The bond between the peoples of Iran and Iraq is historic and unbreakable," he wrote.

"Our neighborhood is founded on brotherhood in the most difficult times, resistance to foreign interference, and a belief in the shared destiny of the two countries. This instructive past will guide our future."

Qalibaf noted that during the visit, "we will take practical and significant steps to strengthen the two countries’ indigenous and shared security and promote the well-being of our two peoples."

Speaking before his departure from Tehran's Mehrabad Airport on Wednesday, Qalibaf said the Iranian parliamentary delegation was traveling to Baghdad at the invitation of the speaker of the Iraqi Parliament.

"Today, we are traveling to Baghdad with a parliamentary delegation at the invitation of the speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, and during this visit we will hold talks on the most important issues, particularly the development of relations between the two countries in the economic, political, cultural, social and security fields," he said.

Qalibaf said he would also meet with senior Iraqi figures, including the country's president as well as a number of Iraqi economic and cultural figures.

He described the visit as particularly important given its timing following the victory of the Islamic Republic in the imposed 40-day Ramadan war, adding that bilateral relations between Baghdad and Tehran are of "very important and fundamental" significance in regional developments.

"Without a doubt, in the future of the region we will witness a new order," Qalibaf said.

Referring to the influential roles played by Iran and Iraq in the region, he said the visit could help create an opportunity to develop a common outlook toward the prospects ahead.

At the site where Iran's legendary anti-teror commander General Qassem Soleimani was martyred near Baghdad airport in January 2020, Qalibaf said the visit to Iraq is aimed at helping establish a new regional order and accelerating cooperation among all countries of the region without intervention by foreign powers.

"The visit today to Iraq is aimed at strengthening the new order in the region and accelerating mutual cooperation among all the countries of the region, without the intervention of foreign powers," Qalibaf said.

He said Islamic countries in the region should develop deep security interactions and ties backed and reinforced by sustainable economic cooperation.

"As has been stated publicly on numerous occasions, the Islamic countries of the region should seek to establish deep security interactions and ties that are supported and strengthened by sustainable economic cooperation," he said.

Qalibaf added that the Islamic Republic of Iran was fully prepared to help establish such a regional model.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran declares its full readiness to realize this regional model," he said.

Qalibaf’s visit comes amid a recent intensification of high-level contacts between Tehran and Baghdad.

Governor of the Central Bank of Iran Abdolnaser Hemmati traveled to Baghdad on Sunday at the head of a delegation for talks with Iraqi banking and economic officials, with discussions focusing on bilateral trade, banking cooperation and mechanisms to address financial obstacles between the two countries.

Iran’s Parliament speaker to visit Iraq to discuss regional developments

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf will travel to Iraq on Wednesday to discuss regional developments and strengthen strategic cooperation between Tehran and Baghdad.

Hemmati also met with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, as the two sides discussed financial and economic issues, including outstanding Iranian financial claims and ways to facilitate bilateral commercial exchanges.

The Central Bank governor’s visit followed Prime Minister Zaidi’s first official visit to Iran on July 23, when he met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the two sides oversaw the signing of agreements and memoranda covering foreign affairs, finance, the economy and energy.

The sequence of high-level visits highlights the breadth of Iran-Iraq relations, with cooperation extending beyond political and security affairs to banking, trade, energy, transportation and other economic areas.

Qalibaf’s visit is expected to add a parliamentary and political dimension to those ongoing efforts, while discussions are also expected to address regional developments, border security, counterterrorism and the implementation of existing bilateral agreements.

The visit also coincides with the Arbaeen period and the 40th day since the burial of Iran's martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, with a ceremony scheduled to be held in Karbala.

Qalibaf said he would attend the ceremony as a representative of new Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, conveying his greetings and message to the Iraqi people.

He said he would also convey the Leader's thanks to the Iraqi people for their participation in the funeral procession of the martyred Leader.

"At the same time, during the Arbaeen days and the 40th day after the burial of our martyred Imam, a ceremony will be held in Karbala, which I will attend on behalf of the Leader of the Revolution," Qalibaf said.

"I will convey his greetings, message and thanks to the great people of Iraq, who spared no effort in participating in the funeral of the martyred Leader of the Revolution," he added.

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