Iraq, Iran vow to fight terror, boost ties
TEHRAN: Tehran and Baghdad on Tuesday identified fighting “terrorism,” maintaining mutual security and extending economic cooperation as key priorities during the Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani’s first official visit to Iran.
Sudani was received by President Ebrahim Raisi, who expressed hopes of bolstering ties.
“From our perspective and that of the Iraqi government, security, peace, cooperation and regional stability are very important,” Raisi told a joint press conference.
“As a result, the fight against terrorist groups, organised crime, drugs and other insecurity that threaten the region depends on the common will of our two nations,” he said.
Sudani said that, “our government is determined not to allow any group or party to use Iraqi territory to undermine and disrupt Iran’s security.”
Sudani added that the two countries’ national security advisers would hold consultations to “establish a working mechanism for on-the-ground coordination to avoid any escalation.”
Sudani also thanked Iran for its continued deliveries of gas and electricity, which have been in short supply in Iraq, while he also pointed to discussions on a “mechanism” to enable Iraq to pay Iran for these services.
Raisi said banking, finance and wider business topics were also discussed and that talks between the two allies “will help to resolve bilateral problems.”
Meanwhile, Iran has for the first time reported that more than 300 people have died in over two months of protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody.
“Everyone in the country has been affected by the death of this lady,” said Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in a video published by the Mehr news agency.
The Iran Human Rights (IHR) said on Tuesday that, the Iranian security forces have killed at least 448 people in the crackdown on protests.
Of the 448 people confirmed to have been killed, 60 were children aged under 18, including nine girls, and 29 women, the Norway-based group said.
It said 16 people were killed by security forces in the past week alone, of whom 12 were slain in Kurdish-populated areas where protests have been particularly intense.