Iran: President Pezeshkian to visit Iraq in first foreign trip

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is set to make his first foreign visit since taking office in July with a trip to neighbouring Iraq tomorrow, Iranian state media confirmed on Sunday. Pezeshkian will lead a high-ranking delegation to Baghdad at the invitation of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.

The visit is expected to focus on strengthening bilateral ties and will include the signing of key memoranda on cooperation and security. This was noted by Iran’s ambassador to Iraq, Mohammad Kazem Al-Sadegh, last month when he said that the trip will be “effective in enhancing ties [with Iraq] across all cultural, economic, and political levels.”

These agreements were initially intended to be signed during the term of Iran’s previous president, the late Ebrahim Raisi. Since taking office, reformist Pezeshkian has prioritised relations with Iran’s neighbouring countries, with Iraq being a key partner in trade and political influence.

The trip also comes amidst Baghdad’s efforts to maintain a neutral stance in regional conflicts and position itself as a diplomatic intermediary with Iran.

“When President Pezeshkian took office, some were concerned that his administration would not prioritise regional issues, and mainly pour its efforts into mending ties with the West,” said Mohaddeseh Rezayi, an expert on the country quoted by the Tehran Times on the importance of this trip. “This visit shows that the new government is just as committed to strengthening Iran’s relationship with both the people of the government of Iraq, as the last one was.”

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