Pezeshkian stresses importance of ties to Iraq in call with President
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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urges for the development of cooperation with Iraq as he stresses the importance of their ties.
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In this photo released by the Iranian Presidency Office, President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a rally in Tehran, Iran, Monday, February 10, 2025 (AP)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian affirmed that relations with Iraq are among the most important areas of Iran’s foreign policy, emphasizing that the Iraqi people are "brothers and friends" to Iran.
Pezeshkian’s remarks came during a phone call on Friday with his Iraqi counterpart, Abdul Latif Rashid. He expressed hope for a direct meeting in the near future to exchange views on ways to strengthen cooperation and understanding between the two countries in a manner that serves the well-being and stability of both the Iranian and Iraqi peoples.
For his part, President Rashid congratulated the Iranian leadership and people on the occasion of the new year, affirming that the Iraqi people and government have always stood by Iran and wish its people prosperity.
He stressed that "Iraq is ready for any form of cooperation and coordination with Iran to promote stability, security, and prosperity in both countries and for the peoples of the region."
The two presidents discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations in various areas of mutual interest and to expand cooperation aimed at fostering stability and development in the region.
They also underscored the importance of continuing collaboration to confront regional and international challenges and to strengthen political stability across the region.
US government depriving Iraqis of rights
Back in March, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the US government's decision to "target the innocent Iraqi people by depriving them of basic services such as electricity, especially as the hot months of next year approach."
"We stand with the Iraqi people, and we affirm our commitment to our pledge to the Iraqi government to cooperate in confronting the illegal measures taken by the United States," Araghchi said in a post on X.
Iraq currently lacks immediate alternatives to replace the energy imported from Iran, a shortfall that will pose a major challenge in meeting domestic electricity demand, particularly during the summer months, Reuters reported, citing three energy officials.
A US official had confirmed that Washington has opted not to renew a waiver that allowed Iraq to purchase electricity from Iran without violating sanctions.
"Government has started to implement urgent measures to reduce the impact of the U.S. decision on Iraq power supply," one senior electricity ministry official told Reuters.
