Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Ebrahim Raisi on Tuesday urged Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani during separate meetings in Tehran to stand up to enemies and fight terrorism. The newly elected PM is in Iran for a two-day trip. Sudani also met with Iranian Vice President Mohammad Mokhber and Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.
Meeting With Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Mr. Sudani, you said that based on your Constitution you wouldn’t let any group use Iraqi soil to harm Iran’s security. But attempts are being made to harm Iran’s security in some Iraqi regions. The only solution is for Iraq’s central govt. to exert its authority in those areas.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) November 29, 2022
Khamenei told Sudani that Iraq needs to take decisive action against mutual enemies who threaten the stability of both countries, in a reference to Kurdish militants in Iraq. Iran has blamed Iraqi and Iranian Kurdish groups for fomenting violence and encouraging the ongoing anti-regime protests.
The Iranian military has been bombing Iraqi Kurdistan to stop Kurdish groups from using Iraq as a base to launch attacks against Iran. Noting that the operation of militias against Iran from Iraq is “unfortunate,” Khamenei said “the only solution is for the Iraqi central government to extend its authority to those areas as well,” indicating that Baghdad needs to remove the semi-autonomous status given to Kurdistan.
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“Iraq’s security is Iran’s security, in the same way that Iran’s security also has an effect on the security of Iraq,” Khamenei emphasised. He vowed that Iran “will not allow anyone” to use Iraq to undermine this security.
While Sudani vowed to fight terrorism and prevent Iraq from being used as a launchpad for attacks on Iran, Khamenei said that despite promises, “attempts are being made to harm Iran’s security in some Iraqi regions.” In this respect, he reminded the newly-appointed Iraqi PM about the successful cooperation of Iraqi and Iranian militaries in thwarting Islamic State terrorists from Iraq, calling on Sudani to replicate this success once again.
Khamenei also urged Sudani to rely on “motivated” Iraqi youth to fight terrorism. “You need to stand up firmly to the enemy’s plans by relying on the people and on the young, motivated forces who successfully countered the vast, deadly risk of the Daesh,” he told Sudani.
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Nationwide protests against mandatory hijab laws began in early September following the killing of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini by the morality police. Tehran has accused foreign and internal enemies, including Iran’s Kurdish minority of trying to topple the government. In this respect, the Iranian military has been shelling Kurdish groups in Iran and Iraq and threatened to launch a ground offensive against Iraqi Kurds if Baghdad does not take measures to stop them. In fact, Iran has already deployed troops to their border.
Iraq has condemned the Iranian shelling of Kurdistan, saying Tehran has no right to bomb the country.
Meeting With Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi
Raisi told the Iraqi PM that both countries needed to step up their fight against terrorists and other threats to bring “security, peace, and stability” to the region. Saying the United States (US) is a security risk for the region, Raisi claimed that the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq and the region would increase peace and security.
President Raisi: #Iran always welcomes, supports a united nation, strong gov't in #Iraq https://t.co/L3jTdHRkm3 pic.twitter.com/8AZYgJ3O4A
— Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran (@Iran_GOV) November 29, 2022
US forces have been present in Iraq and Syria since 2014 as part of a wider coalition to defeat ISIS.
Sudani promised to fight against terrorism and called for more talks between Iranian and Iraqi leaders to bolster their security commitment.
“The security of the two countries is inseparable from each other and is considered a part of the security of the entire region,” Sudani said.
He also called on Iran to maintain a balanced policy with Iraq “based on the principle of mutual respect and non-interfere in other’s internal affairs.”
Furthermore, the two leaders agreed to improve economic, commercial, cultural, and energy ties. In this respect, they agreed to hold meetings “continuously and regularly.”
Meeting With Iranian Vice President Mohammad Mokhber
During his meeting with Mokhber, Sudani asserted that Iraq plays “a pivotal role” in ensuring regional security and stability, stressing the importance of joint cooperation between Baghdad and Tehran.
“The meeting focused on discussing issues and topics of shared interest and ways to develop bilateral cooperation in various fields,” a statement released by Sudani’s office said.
Meanwhile, Mokhber congratulated Sudani on being appointed as PM and for the formation of a new Iraqi government. He called on the two countries to expand bilateral ties, especially in trade.
He told Sudani that Iran expects Iraq “not to let security threats pose trouble for Iran’s national security.” The vice president also called on the Iraqi government to expedite the criminal proceedings against those involved in the 2020 assassination of Quds Force chief Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
Meeting With Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf
Sudani and Qalibaf agreed to bolster bilateral ties in all major fields, noting that only improving their partnership could serve the interests of Baghdad and Tehran. Sudani said the Iraqi and Iranian peoples share “profound relationships,” which forms the basis for the two neighbours’ “bonds of cooperation.” Qalibaf stressed that the people, parliament, and Iranian government support a “strong and sovereign” Iraq.