Pezeshkian visits Iraq's Basra to inspect Iranian industrial projects
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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is in Iraq for his first state visit since his inauguration.
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Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, center, visits the holy shrine of Imam Ali, in the southern Iraqi city of Najaf, September 12, 2024 (AP)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, along with his accompanying delegation, arrived in the southern Iraqi province of Basra on Friday on the third day of his state visit to Iraq aimed at closely inspecting Iranian-led development projects in the region.
According to the Iranian Consul in Basra, Ali Abadi, this is the first visit by an Iranian president to Basra in 100 years. The visit is being hailed as a "historic moment" for relations between the two nations and highlights Iraq's importance to Iran.
Before arriving in Basra, President Pezeshkian visited several other Iraqi governorates, including Baghdad, Najaf, Karbala, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah. His visit to Basra marks the final stop in his tour of Iraq, which is also his first international trip since he took office at the end of July.
Earlier, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani received Pezeshkian at the government palace in Baghdad, where they discussed a range of issues and topics of mutual interest and focused on strengthening cooperation and deepening the partnership between the two nations.
During the talks, the Iraqi Prime Minister emphasized the significance of joint efforts between Iraq and Iran to address the economic and security challenges facing the region. He also paid tribute to the late President Ebrahim Raisi, recalling his steadfast support for Iraq.
The Iranian President expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Iraq and the Iraqi government for the warm reception, affirming the Islamic Republic's desire to strengthen bilateral relations and continue cooperation programs and memorandums of understanding between the two countries.
Pezeshkian presented al-Sudani with a letter from Iranian Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei, thanking Iraq for its efforts during the Arbaeen pilgrimage, which Pezeshkian called a testament to Islamic hospitality.
In addition to his official meetings in Iraq, the Iranian President will visit the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, where he will pay respects at the shrines of Imam Ali and Imam Hussein, revered figures in Islam.
