Iraq, Iran agree on ‘aerial defence cooperation’

Iran and Iraq yesterday agreed “to enhance cooperation in air defence”, Tehran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported.

The agreement was made during a meeting between Iran’s Chief of Staff, Mohammad Bagheri, and his Iraqi counterpart, Othman Al-Ghanmi, in the Iranian capital Tehran.

“Since air threats on Iraq and Iran are possible from the direction of the western borders, we decided to launch close cooperation in the field of air defence between the two countries,” Bagheri told reporters at a press conference.

Bagheri added that his meeting with Al-Ghanmi also discussed mutual cooperation on training, joint drills and the transfer of Iranian military experiences to Iraq.

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On the border issues and the disputed waterway known as the Shatt Al-Arab, the Iranian official pointed out that the armies of the two countries would “provide security to this area.” He noted that the two sides had also agreed on “establishing security in the Persian Gulf.”

Al-Ghanmi arrived in Tehran on Saturday as part of an Iraqi delegation led by the Prime Minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi.

“We are seeking to further expand relations between Iraq and the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Abdul Mahdi said, hailing Tehran’s “help in Iraq’s fight against terrorism.”