TEHRAN – In an interview with Iraqi media, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi emphasized the close and fraternal relationship between Iran and Iraq, noting that the bond between the two countries goes beyond simple geography.

He also pointed to Israel as a shared adversary for both Tehran and Baghdad.

"Iraq is more than just a neighboring country for Iran; it is our friend and brother," Araqchi stated during the interview with Al Forat News. He stressed the numerous shared interests and commonalities between the two nations, highlighting the deep cultural, historical, and political ties that bind them together.

Araqchi also praised the significance of Iranian President Pezeshkian’s decision to choose Iraq as the first destination for his foreign visits. 

“This choice reflects the depth of the brotherly relations between our two countries," Araqchi noted, underscoring the importance of the visit, which will include stops in Baghdad, Basra, Erbil, Najaf, and Karbala.

During the interview, the Iranian foreign minister expressed support for Iraq's efforts to mediate regional tensions. He specifically praised Iraq for hosting five rounds of talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia aimed at reducing tensions between the two key players in the Middle East. "Iran welcomes Iraq's initiatives to mediate in reducing tensions in the region," Araqchi stated, adding that Iran is closely monitoring Iraq's development and progress.

On the economic front, Araqchi mentioned that any regional economic project with broad effects requires thorough discussions among neighboring countries, signaling Tehran's interest in working closely with Iraq on such ventures.

Turning to the security situation, Araqchi highlighted the Tehran-Baghdad security agreement signed in 2021. He expressed satisfaction with Iraq’s efforts to prevent hostile groups from launching attacks on Iran from Iraqi territory. "We are pleased with Iraq's actions against groups that target Iran, and we are in constant consultation with our Iraqi counterparts to ensure the optimal implementation of the security agreement," Araqchi said.

He further emphasized that the stability of Iraq is directly linked to the security of Iran. "Security and stability in Iraq mean security and stability for Iran," he declared, before reiterating that the Zionist regime, referring to Israel, is a common enemy for both nations.