Araghchi calls for strengthened Iran-Iraq security cooperation
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi highlighted the strong relations between Tehran and Baghdad in various fields, stressing the need for continued consultations and strengthened security cooperation, particularly in border management.
The top Iranian diplomat made the remarks in a meeting with Iraq’s National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji in Tehran on Monday.
Al-Araji also briefed Araghchi on the progress made in implementing the Iran-Iraq security agreement, reaffirming Baghdad’s full commitment to upholding the pact.
In August, Iraq and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance security coordination along their shared border.
The Iraqi official praised the unity and resilience of the Iranian nation in the face of recent aggressions by Israel and the United States against Iran, assuring that Iraq would never allow its territory to be used for any threat against Iran’s sovereignty or security.
On June 13, Israel launched an unprovoked aggression against Iran, triggering a 12-day war that killed at least 1,064 people in the country, including military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians.
The United States also entered the war by bombing three peaceful Iranian nuclear sites in a grave violation of international law.
The two aggressors used Iraq’s airspace illegally and with no authorization to launch strikes on the Islamic Republic.
Back in July, Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said Iraq formally lodged a complaint with the UN concerning repeated violations of its airspace by Israeli warplanes during the regime's recent aggression against Iran.
Sudani condemned in the strongest terms Israel’s incursions into Iraqi airspace, which were used to launch strikes on Iran.
“During the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, Israeli aircraft repeatedly used Iraqi airspace to bomb targets deep inside Iranian territory,” he told the BBC, denouncing the act as an encroachment upon his country's sovereignty.
Al-Araji, who arrived in Tehran on Monday, also held a separate meeting with Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Major General Mohammad Pakpour on Tuesday.
During the meeting, general Pakpour cautioned the enemies of the Islamic republic that any act of aggression against Iran will draw a stronger reaction than what they experienced during the 12-day war.
He said that Israel had placed great reliance on its missile shield during the 12-day war but Iran managed to struck its intended targets.
Iran is now fully prepared to give stronger response to any act of aggression against the country, he added.