Iran's president Pezeshkian visits Iraq on first foreign trip

BAGHDAD,— Iran’s newly-elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian, embarked on a significant three-day visit to Iraq on Wednesday, marking his first official trip abroad since taking office.

The visit seeks to enhance the already robust relationship between the two neighboring nations, especially amid ongoing turbulence in the Middle East, largely driven by the conflict in Gaza.

The trip comes at a time when regional tensions are high, with various Iran-backed groups playing a role in the conflict and complicating Iraq’s already delicate relationship with the United States.

In a formal statement, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani welcomed Pezeshkian, stating, “Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani welcomes the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian,” as the two leaders were photographed shaking hands upon the president’s arrival at Baghdad airport.

Pezeshkian, who took office in July, has emphasized the importance of strengthening ties with Iran’s neighboring countries, seeing it as a strategic way to lessen Iran’s international isolation. He aims to alleviate the economic pressure from the U.S.-led sanctions, which have severely impacted Iran’s economy.

The visit coincides with the announcement of new Western sanctions on Iran, stemming from its alleged provision of missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine.

In response, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanani, issued a warning to Britain, France, and Germany, stating they would face “appropriate and proportionate” retaliation for what he described as a “hostile” move.

Tensions were further heightened shortly before Pezeshkian’s arrival, as an explosion occurred at a U.S.-led coalition base at Baghdad airport. The Iranian-backed Hezbollah Brigades in Iraq claimed responsibility, stating the attack was intended to disrupt the president’s visit.

Relations between Iran and Iraq, both predominantly Shiite countries, have steadily grown stronger since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, which toppled Saddam Hussein’s Sunni-led regime. In a statement broadcast on Iranian state television, Pezeshkian remarked, “Iraq is one of our friends, brothers, and Muslim countries,” adding that this was why he chose Iraq for his first official trip abroad.

Pezeshkian took office following an early election after the untimely death of his predecessor, Ebrahim Raisi, in a helicopter crash. His administration has placed a particular focus on solidifying ties with neighboring nations as a means of mitigating the effects of ongoing sanctions. Last month, Pezeshkian stressed the importance of regional alliances, stating that closer relations with neighboring countries could help offset the pressure caused by sanctions.

The president’s trip also includes visits to Iraq’s holy Shiite cities of Najaf and Karbala, where millions of Iranian pilgrims travel each year. Iran is one of Iraq’s key trade partners, with economic ties between the two nations playing a crucial role in their relationship.

According to Iranian media, non-oil trade between the two countries reached nearly $5 billion in the five-month period from March 2024.

Iran also provides Iraq with significant quantities of natural gas, fueling much of the country’s power supply. Iraq, in turn, remains behind on payments for these imports, which are essential for meeting around 30% of the country’s electricity needs.

Iraqi political analyst Ali al-Baidar noted that expanding trade was one of the key objectives of Pezeshkian’s visit. “Iran needs the Iraqi market for its exports, just as it needs Iraq’s energy imports,” he said, emphasizing the mutual economic reliance between the two countries.

Pezeshkian’s visit also comes against the backdrop of ongoing U.S. military presence in Iraq, with approximately 2,500 American troops stationed in the country as part of the broader coalition against the Islamic State group.

Recent attacks targeting U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria have escalated, particularly in light of the war in Gaza, where Iran-backed groups have increased their activity. These attacks have prompted retaliatory airstrikes from the U.S., further complicating the already tense situation.

Iraqi Defense Minister Thabet al-Abbassi announced in an interview on Sunday that U.S.-led coalition forces are expected to withdraw from most of Iraq by September 2025, and from the Kurdish autonomous region by September 2026, although no formal agreement on these dates has yet been reached.

Pezeshkian is also scheduled to visit the Kurdish regional capital of Erbil during his trip, where he will meet with Kurdish officials. This visit follows the signing of a security agreement between Iraq and Iran in March last year, which sought to address cross-border tensions with Iranian Kurdish rebel groups operating in the autonomous Kurdistan region.

In this visit, Pezeshkian aims to deepen political and economic ties while navigating the complex landscape of Middle Eastern diplomacy, amid rising regional tensions and ongoing international scrutiny.

(With files from AFP)