Iran’s newly elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian, embarked on his first foreign trip since taking office, arriving in Iraq on Wednesday with the goal of strengthening the already strong relationship between the two neighboring nations.
The three-day visit takes place against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East, largely fueled by the ongoing war in Gaza. This conflict has drawn in Iran-backed militias across the region and added strain to Iraq’s ties with the United States.
Pezeshkian has made it clear that fostering strong relations with neighboring countries is one of his key priorities. His broader strategy involves reducing Iran’s international isolation and countering the effects of sanctions led by the United States, which have significantly impacted Iran’s economy.
The visit follows a new wave of sanctions announced by Western nations on Tuesday, targeting Iran for supplying Russia with short-range missiles used in the war against Ukraine. In response, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani issued a stern warning to Britain, France, and Germany, stating that they would face “appropriate and proportionate action” for their “hostile” actions.
Just hours before Pezeshkian’s arrival in Iraq, an explosion occurred at a base near the airport used by the US-led anti-jihadist coalition. Iraqi security officials reported the incident, while a spokesperson for the Iranian-backed Hezbollah Brigades in Iraq suggested that the “attack” was intended to undermine the Iranian president’s visit.
The relationship between Iran and Iraq, both predominantly Shiite nations, has deepened since the 2003 US-led invasion that resulted in the downfall of Iraq’s Sunni-dominated regime under Saddam Hussein. The two countries have since forged closer political and military ties, largely due to shared religious and geopolitical interests.
