Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani visited Iran on Wednesday, January 8 where the two countries discussed strengthening regional unity to resist all forms of external interference while increasing their mutual cooperation and communication.
During his meeting with the Iraqi delegation, Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian proposed the creation of a “joint economic zone” between the two countries, emphasizing that Iraq is “an important neighbor and strategic partner for Iran.”
Al-Sudani’s visit to Iran comes months after Pezeshkian visited Baghdad in September during his first diplomatic trip after assuming office.
The Iraqi Prime Minister also met Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, who reportedly expressed concern about the US solidifying its military presence in Iraq. Khamenei emphasized that such actions should not be accepted and reiterated Iran’s call for the complete withdrawal of all foreign troops from the region.
Iran has long raised the issue of the presence of foreign troops in the region and called for their complete withdrawal. It considers the presence of US forces in Iraq illegal and a threat to regional peace and security.
US forces first entered Iraq during the 2003 invasion. The forces prolonged their occupation of the country and then further extended it following threats from ISIS. However, after the official defeat of ISIS in 2017, popular mobilizations against the foreign troops in the country increased pressure on the US and other countries to withdraw their forces, reducing their numbers drastically.
The Iraqi parliament adopted a resolution in 2020 that forced the US to withdraw most of its forces. The resolution came after the assassination of senior Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani and PMF leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis by the US in a drone attack in Baghdad on January 3.
In December 2021, the US announced the end of its combat mission in the country, claiming that its remaining forces, around 2,500 troops, were only there for training purposes.
Iran commemorates Soleimani and stresses that resistance must be strengthened
Iran just marked the fifth anniversary of Soleimani’s assassination. Recognizing his contributions in resistance against imperialist forces and terrorist groups such as ISIS. President Pezeshkian said that Soleimani “stood up to defend the oppressed in every corner of the world, including in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, regardless of people’s religion, personal taste and views” and called him a symbol of honor for the Iranian nation.
Khamenei has praised Soleimani’s role in helping Iraq fight ISIS in the past. On Wednesday he also acknowledged the development and security efforts undertaken by the Iraqi government since then, saying, “the more prosperous and secure Iraq is, the better it will be for the benefit of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” and praised the unity among various sects in Iraq as a sign of stability and peace, Press TV reported.
However, Khamenei also asked al-Sudani to strengthen the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), known as Hashd al-Shaabi. He called it “a significant pillar of national resilience” and praised its role in the resistance.
PMF is a militia now attached to the Iraqi army. It played a significant role in the defeat of ISIS in 2017 and has opposed the presence of foreign troops in the country by carrying out repeated attacks on their bases. It is one of the central parts of the Axis of Resistance in Iraq and has also carried out attacks against Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Al-Sudani acknowledged PMF’s role in Iraqi politics, calling it one of the important components of power in the country along with the people and religious authorities.
The Iraqi prime minister agreed with Iran’s concerns about instability in Syria and the wars in Gaza and Lebanon. He emphasized that greater unity among the countries in the region and an end to all kinds of external interference is necessary for a sustainable peace.
