The new Iranian president is leading a high-ranking delegation to Iraq this week. President Masoud Pezeshkian began a three-day visit to Iraq on Wednesday morning, according to Iranian state media reports.
This is a historic trip for the new president. He is bringing a large delegation focusing on economic and other issues. This is part of Iran’s goal to tie Iraq closer to Tehran’s agenda and also knit Iraq into Iran’s economy.
Iran has a profound influence on Iraq. It has numerous militias it backs in Iraq, called the Popular Mobilization Forces. These units include groups such as Kataib Hezbollah, close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. These groups have often carried out attacks on US forces in the region. For instance, Kataib Hezbollah targeted US troops in Jordan in January, killing three Americans. These groups also target Israel with kamikaze drones.
Iran’s new president will meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani during his trip. “Meeting with his Iraqi counterpart and other top officials in the host country, signing several documents on cooperation, and holding meetings with Iranian businesspersons residing in Iraq are among the president’s schedule,” Iran’s IRNA reported. The Iranian president will also visit various Shi’ite shrines in Iraq. According to reports, the Iranian leader will also visit Iraq’s regions, including southern Iraq’s Basra and northern Iraq’s Kurdistan region.
Iranian ambassador threatens Kurdistan
The Iranian ambassador to Iraq recently raised eyebrows when he gave an interview that appeared to threaten the Kurdistan autonomous region of Iraq. The Iranian ambassador claimed that Israel has used northern Iraq to threaten Iran. Iran has made this claim several times in the past, and it usually leads to Iranian drone and missile attacks on the Kurdistan region.
In addition, Iran has threatened to use military force against Kurdish dissident groups located in northern Iraq. Many Kurds from Iran have fled to Iraq over the years, and they have political parties they have set up in Iran and Iraq that resist the Iranian regime. Iran wants the offices of these groups closed, and their bases closed in northern Iraq.
The Iranian leader’s trip comes as Iran seeks to shore up diplomatic reconciliation and ties with Saudi Arabia and other states in the region. Iran is also discussing boosting ties with several other countries, including Armenia and Serbia.