Iranian President Seeks Stronger Ties with Iraq Amid Rising Tensions

Iran's reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, during his first foreign trip since taking office, aims to strengthen Tehran's relationship with Baghdad. This visit emphasizes economic, political, and religious ties as regional tensions escalate. Key topics include security relations, economic projects, and balancing alliances with the US and other regional powers.

Iran's reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian embarked on his inaugural foreign trip as president on Wednesday, aiming to fortify Tehran's ties with Baghdad amid increasingly fraught regional tensions.

For Iran, its relationship with Iraq is pivotal for economic, political, and religious reasons, especially since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq that ousted Saddam Hussein. Baghdad struggles to balance relations with Tehran, which supports powerful Shiite militias, and the US, which maintains 2,500 troops in Iraq battling Islamic State remnants.

Ahead of Pezeshkian's visit, an explosion occurred near Baghdad International Airport at a site used by the US military, with no casualties reported. The US Embassy is assessing the damage. Pezeshkian, inaugurated in July, will visit Shiite shrines and review a railroad project linking Basra to Iran, among other engagements. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized Pezeshkian's goal of strengthening security and economic ties with Iraq, stating Iran's support for Iraqi development.

(With inputs from agencies.)