Raisi Affirms to al-Kadhimi Iran's Support for Iraq
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Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi discusses with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi several important issues, on top of which is the Iraqi parliamentary elections crisis.
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Raisi said Iran has "always emphasized that the fate of nations should be determined through the voting ballots."
Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi confirmed his country's support for "political processes, legal procedures, and transparency" to solve Iraq's parliamentary elections crisis.
In a phone call with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi on Wednesday, Raisi affirmed that Iran considers elections "an important achievement in the way of ensuring people’s own governance of their own fates."
The Iranian President said the Islamic Republic has "always emphasized that the fate of nations should be determined through the voting ballots."
He also stressed that "the unity and solidarity of Iraq is a strategic issue that should not be harmed," reiterating that "Iran is always beside the Iraqi nation and government."
Raisi emphasized that "Iraq's unity and territorial integrity is a strategic matter that should not be compromised."
For his part, al-Kadhimi praised Iran's support for the Iraqi people and stressed that Iran’s viewpoint about Iraq has always been based on the establishment and preservation of stability and security of our country.
This phone call between the two is considered the first public communication between an Iranian official and al-Kadhimi since the attempt to assassinate him by an attack drone at the dawn of November 7.
A few days ago, Al Mayadeen sources reported that IRGC Quds Force Commander, Brigadier General Esmail Qaani arrived in Baghdad, in light of al-Kadhimi's assassination attempt.
The sources reported that Qaani met with Iraqi President Barham Salih and Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and Iraqi ministers, as well as other officials, during which he stressed Iraq's need for "stability and preservation of unity."
General Qaani stressed the need to "avert actions which threaten the stability of Iraq" and to meet "the demands of the people and the opposing voices, legally."
The Iranian General's call for calm comes in light of the tensions mounting from the refusal of some Iraqi political blocs to recognize and accept the parliamentary elections' results, which took place on October 10. This event was followed by protests which caused deaths and injuries.
Amir Moussavi, director of the Strategic Studies and International Affairs Center, revealed to Al Mayadeen that "al-Kadhimi requested a swift meeting with Sayyed Khamenei, which reflects the depth of [Iraqi-Iranian] ties."
Al-Kadhimi has previously visited Iran twice since taking office. During his first visit in July 2020, he met with Iranian Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei.
