The Iraqi President, in a meeting with Iran’s interim President Mohammad Mokhber, expressed condolences over the martyrdom of the late President Ibrahim Raisi and his entourage. He underscored the importance of continuing to fortify the bilateral ties between Iraq and Iran.
President Raisi died last week in a helicopter crash after the rescue teams commenced their search on Sunday afternoon after his aircraft, which also transported nine other officials, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, disappeared in Iran’s mountainous northwestern region near the Azerbaijan border.
Iran and Iraq the two neighboring countries share deep historical, cultural, and religious ties, but their relationship has also been shaped by geopolitical dynamics and regional conflicts.
Iran has significant influence in Iraq, particularly through political, economic, and military channels. Iranian-backed militias have played a significant role in Iraq’s fight against ISIS and have also been involved in Iraqi politics.
In recent years, Iraq and Iran have maintained close ties in various areas, including trade, energy, and security. However, Iraq has also faced challenges in balancing its relationship with Iran with its relationships with other regional and international powers, particularly the United States.
Nonetheless, despite these close ties, Iraq has also strived to maintain its sovereignty and independence.
The Iraqi government has taken several steps to claim its autonomy from Iran, such as cracking down on Iranian-backed militias and seeking to diversify its relationships with other countries.