Iran’s newly inaugurated President, Masoud Pezeshkian, embarked on his first foreign visit to Iraq on Wednesday, signaling his intent to strengthen ties with neighboring countries. Pezeshkian, who took office in late July, has emphasized regional relations as a key strategy to alleviate the impact of US-led sanctions on Iran’s economy. His visit to Iraq comes at a time of heightened tensions, following Western sanctions imposed on Iran for allegedly supplying Russia with missiles for the conflict in Ukraine.
The visit is also set against the backdrop of escalating instability in the Middle East, particularly due to the ongoing war in Gaza, which has involved Iran-backed groups across the region. Notably, an explosion was reported at a US-led coalition base in Baghdad on Tuesday night, which Iranian-backed Ketaeb Hezbollah in Iraq claimed was an attempt to disrupt Pezeshkian’s visit.
Iran and Iraq, both Shiite-majority nations, have grown increasingly close since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. Pezeshkian’s trip underscores the deepening political and economic ties between the two countries. Iran is one of Iraq’s major trade partners, with non-oil trade reaching nearly $5 billion in the past five months alone. Additionally, Iran exports significant quantities of gas to Iraq, crucial for meeting 30% of Iraq’s electricity needs.
Pezeshkian’s agenda includes visits to the Shiite holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, and discussions with Kurdish officials in Arbil.
