Iranian FM Araghchi visits Soleimani memorial in Baghdad

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi visited the memorial site of the martyrs of the Resistance Front, including former IRGC Quds Force Commander Lt. Gen. Qassem Soleimani and Iraq's Second-in-Command of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMU) Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, upon his arrival in Baghdad.

The visit took place as Araghchi began his official trip to Iraq. The memorial site honors those killed in a U.S. drone strike on January 3, 2020, at Baghdad International Airport. The strike, ordered by then-U.S. President Donald Trump, also targeted the convoy carrying Soleimani and al-Muhandis, who were traveling to meet then-Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi.

Soleimani was a prominent Iranian military commander, while al-Muhandis was a senior Iraqi militia leader. Their deaths heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, leading to retaliatory attacks and a significant escalation in regional conflicts.

According to Mehr News, Araghchi's visit underscores the continued significance of Soleimani and al-Muhandis as symbols of resistance in the region. The report added that the Iranian foreign minister paid his respects at the site, which has become a place of pilgrimage for supporters of the Resistance Front.