Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has embarked on his first state trip abroad to Iraq in an effort to strengthen ties as Western sanctions against Iran tighten. During his visit, Pezeshkian met with Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani and is expected to sign agreements and discuss the Gaza conflict and Middle East issues with Iraqi officials.
One of Pezeshkian’s main objectives is to address Israel’s war on Gaza and expand trade ties with Iraq, which is crucial for Iran’s exports and energy imports. The visit also includes a trip to the Kurdish regional capital, Erbil, for discussions with Kurdish officials.
The planned agreements between Iran and Iraq cover various sectors such as trade, agriculture, and communications, as both countries aim to mitigate the impact of US-led sanctions on Iran’s economy. Iran is a key trade partner for Iraq, with non-oil trade between the two exceeding $5 billion in the past five months.
Despite Iran’s strong political influence in Baghdad, Iraq also maintains close ties with the US, which still has troops in the country as part of an international coalition against ISIS. Hours before Pezeshkian’s arrival, an explosion targeted a US-led coalition base, with some attributing the attack to Iranian-backed groups seeking to disrupt the visit.
The trip comes as Iran faces new sanctions from the US and European countries for allegedly supplying Russia with missiles for use against Ukraine. Pezeshkian’s appointment of Mohammad Javad Zarif, the diplomat who negotiated the 2015 nuclear deal, as vice president for strategic affairs signals a shift towards a more open diplomatic approach.
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