Shamkhani from Iraq: For strict enactment of mutual security agreement

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies + Al Mayadeen Net
19 Mar 16:32

The Iranian Supreme National Security Council, Admiral Ali Shamkhani, meets with the Iraqi National Security Advisor, Qassem Al-Araji, and stresses the importance of strengthening relations between the two countries.

Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, meets with the Iraqi National Security Advisor Qassem Al-Araji in Baghdad, Iraq, March 19, 2023.

The Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, considered on Sunday, during his meeting in Baghdad with the Iraqi National Security Advisor, Qassem Al-Araji, that the strict implementation of the security agreement with Iraq significantly reduces terrorist threats across the borders.

IRNA quoted Shamkhani during his meeting with Al-Araji, in which he said Iran supported the strict application of the terms of the security agreement with Iraq, which he considered a necessity for preventing the creation of a state of insecurity at the borders.

Shamkhani also added that the foundations for the comprehensive development of relations between the two countries will be provided, in "the political, economic and security dimensions more than before." The secretary stressed that the implementation of the security agreement "will guarantee the stability of the situation" at the border areas.

For his part, Al-Araji said that the agreement between the two countries sought to eliminate the security challenges affecting on Iranian-Iraqi relations, noting that it also served the interests of "the two friendly and brotherly countries."

Moreover, Al-Araji argued that his country will not allow any group or state to use Iraqi territories to create a state of insecurity in Iran.

Iran SNSC chief Shamkhani holds talks in Iraq after UAE visit

After a high-stakes trips to Beijing and Abu Dhabi aimed at rebooting diplomatic and security ties with regional neighbors, Shamkhani arrived in Iraq.

The visit comes as part of efforts to enforce 'neighborliness diplomacy' strategy, as per Iranian news agency Nour News.

Shamkhani will reportedly meet the Iraqi President, Prime Minister, and Parliament Speaker during his visit, in order to sign a memorandum of understanding on border security, Mehr news agency reported.

Iraq is Iran's second economic partner, with an annual trade volume of $10 billion, and raising the level of their cooperation requires addressing some of the security challenges that plague relations between the two countries, as well as accelerating the implementation of economic agreements and providing impetus to banking cooperation.

Shamkhani's visit comes amid thawing ties between Iran and several Gulf countries.