Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says deepening security cooperation with Iraq will help enhance the bilateral economic relations.
“We regard Iraq’s security as Iran’s; and we hope with the full implementation of the security agreement, sustainable security will be put in place on the border,” Araqchi said in a meeting with Iraq's National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji in Tehran on Sunday.
He added Tehran and Baghdad enjoy “strategic, privileged and very good” relations in various fields.
Pointing to great achievements made during Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Iraq in September, Araghchi noted that the president is personally overseeing the implementation of the agreements between the two countries and the expansion of mutual relations.
Iran and Iraq signed a security agreement in March, 2023 in Baghdad, encompassing coordination in protecting the shared border.
The Iraqi national security advisor, for his part, said both the Iraqi central government and the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government will counter any measure against Iran’s security.
He added that the two Muslim and neighboring countries have a prominent relationship at bilateral and regional levels thanks to the establishment of border security and stability.
Araji expressed Iraq’s determination to implement the security agreement with Iran.
The parties also discussed the latest developments in Gaza and Lebanon and emphasized the need to reinforce synergy among Muslim countries to stop Israel’s war crimes in Gaza and Lebanon as soon as possible and to send humanitarian aid to the refugees.
Heading a ranking security delegation, Araji arrived in Tehran on Sunday to hold talks with Iranian officials.
On Monday, Araji held separate meetings with Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Akbar Ahmadian and Head of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force Brigadier General Esmail Qaani.
Misuse of Iraqi airspace in attack on Iran
The top Iranian and Iraqi security officials discussed misuse of the Israeli regime and the US of Iraq’s airspace in a recent attack on several Iranian military facilities on October 26.
They also stressed the importance of expediting the implementation of the clauses of the security deal, particularly in preventing the presence and activities of terrorists along the common borders.
Ahmadian and Araji agreed to explore ways to counter common military, security, and economic threats in the future.