Iran and Iraq stress brotherly ties beyond borders

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with Iraqi President Nizar Amidi and his delegation in Tehran on Friday, where they discussed the strong bilateral ties between the two nations. The Iraqi delegation had traveled to Iran to attend funeral ceremonies for the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a recent attack.

President Pezeshkian stated that the Islamic Republic views Iraq not merely as a neighboring country but as a close and brotherly nation. He emphasized that the longstanding cultural, religious, historical, and social ties between the Iranian and Iraqi peoples cannot be diminished by political borders. He also referred to recent US and Israeli aggression against Iran, saying the attacks violated fundamental principles of international law, humanitarian law, and human rights. The assaults resulted in the martyrdom of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, senior officials, military commanders, and innocent civilians, while also targeting civilian, educational, and scientific facilities.

The Iranian president accused the Israeli regime of pursuing divisive policies across the region, aimed at fueling instability and undermining the scientific, economic, and strategic capabilities of Muslim countries. He called on Islamic nations to strengthen unity and cooperation in confronting common challenges. Pezeshkian also emphasized the need to fully utilize the broad potential for cooperation between Tehran and Baghdad, expressing hope that bilateral agreements would move beyond the signing stage and be fully implemented through sustained political will. He further underlined that regional countries possess the capacity to safeguard their own security and promote development through cooperation without reliance on foreign powers.

In response, Iraqi President Nizar Amidi conveyed the condolences of the Iraqi government and people over the martyrdom of the Iranian Leader and other victims of the recent attacks, saying Iraq shared Iran's grief. He reaffirmed Baghdad's condemnation of the attacks against Iran and said recent developments had demonstrated that lasting regional security depends on cooperation, mutual trust, and closer coordination among neighboring countries rather than foreign intervention. He also said expanded cooperation in the fields of security, economy, and regional affairs would help promote development, prosperity, and stability for the peoples of the region.

According to Mehr News, the meeting highlighted the deep bonds between the two nations and their commitment to strengthening ties beyond mere neighborliness.