Raeisi: Terrorist, separatist provocations weaken regional security
Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi said any act of provocation by terrorist and separatist groups undermines regional security and will not be tolerated.
In a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani of Iraq on Saturday, Raeisi said Tehran and Baghdad have been strengthening their security cooperation to establish sustainable peace.
Sudani, for his part, reiterated the commitment of the Iraqi government and nation to fight against all the elements that pose a threat to sustainable security in the region.
Iran has set the deadline for Iraq to disarm terror groups in the Kurdistan Region by September 19, and has reiterated in recent days that the deadline would not be extended.
PUK president in Tehran
President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), Bafel Jalal Talabani, arrived in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Sunday morning, leading a high-level delegation from his party.
Media outlets affiliated with the PUK reported that Talabani is scheduled to hold several “important” meetings with officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran during his visit, Shafaq News reported.
Recently, Qasim al-Araji, the national security adviser of Iraq, said in a speech that Baghdad is making great efforts to implement the provisions of the security agreement with Iran.
“We emphasize our desire to strengthen relations between the two neighboring countries in a way that benefits the nation and the country and strengthens stability and security in the region,” Al-Araji added, according to Mehr news agency.
The Almutalee website recently reported that Tehran, Baghdad, and Erbil signed a tripartite agreement to expel terrorist Kurdish elements from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to the western regions of the country.
Justice for Gen. Soleimani
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani of Iraq said on Friday that Baghdad seriously pursues justice with respect to the assassination of top Iranian anti-terror commander General Qassem Soleimani and his Iraqi trenchmate Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a US drone strike in January, 2020.
Sudani made the remarks in a meeting with a delegation of Iranian media representatives in Baghdad, Press TV reported.
The prime minister said the Judicial Council of Iraq and the government pursue the issue seriously. He denounced the targeted killings as a blatant violation of Iraq’s sovereignty.
Sudani said a committee comprising security inspectors has already been formed to compile the necessary information and present evidence in legal forums.