“Iraq is our friend and neighbor, and we enjoy close trade relations. The cooperation between the two nations is at a very good level,” Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said ahead of his visit, as reported by the state IRNA news agency.
He later arrived in Baghdad and was received by Iraq’s National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji.
“An agreement will be signed during this trip, and we will meet with many friends in Iraq from various authorities and movements. We will hear their words and discuss views on bilateral cooperation,” Larijani said.
In March 2023, Iran and Iraq signed a security pact under which Baghdad committed to disarming Kurdish opposition groups and tightening security along the shared border. Iran had threatened to use military action if Baghdad failed to fulfill the agreement.
Tehran has accused Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in the Kurdistan Region - namely the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI), Komala, Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK), and the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) - of fueling Iran’s nationwide protest movement in 2022 and inciting unrest. The groups, struggling for greater rights for Iran’s marginalized Kurdish population, have fought an on-and-off war with the Islamic Republic for decades.
Ahead of his visit, Larijani also thanked Iraq for its “very good cooperation” in hosting Iranian pilgrims visiting the country for the Arbaeen pilgrimage.
The Shiite Muslim Arbaeen pilgrimage marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, Imam Hussein, who died in a battle fought in Karbala in 680 AD.
Millions of religious tourists from Lebanon, Turkey, Kuwait, and especially Iraq’s Shiite-majority neighbor Iran journey to Iraq for a symbolic 80-kilometer walk from Najaf to Karbala - both Shiite holy cities.
Ahmad Karami, governor of Ilam in western Iran (Rojhelat), which borders Iraq, told state media on Monday that over two million pilgrims have crossed the Mehran-Zurbatiyah border crossing into Iraq so far.
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 that are affiliated to the Shiite rule in Tehran.
