TEHRAN- Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Akbar Ahmadian has arrived in the Iraqi capital Baghdad to hold talks with several high-ranking Iraqi officials.

Upon his arrival on Monday, he was warmly welcomed by Iraqi officials and then held talks with the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani. 

During the meeting, Ahmadian reiterated Tehran’s commitment to Iraq’s territorial integrity, vowing to safeguard its security and stability.

They also noted that both sides are keen to follow their collaboration based on the Iran-Iraq security pact in a bid to maintain security of the two neighboring countries.

The Iraqi premier declared that no country has the right to infringe Iraq’ territorial integrity, ruling out any unilateral actions by neighboring countries that contradict international principles based on mutual respect for sovereignty.

Al Sudani also underscored Baghdad’s commitment to the principle of good neighborliness and fostering strong relations with regional and global countries. 

Furthermore, he pointed out that such pursuits should not compromise Iraq’s sovereignty and security.

Both sides also held a meeting and discussed common issues.

In another meeting on Monday, Ahmadian visited Qasim al-Araji, the Iraqi National Security Advisor where Mohammad Kazem Al-Sadiq, Iran’s ambassador to Baghdad, was also present.

In the meeting, Ahmadian said Tehran always seeking to strengthen its relations with all parties in line with common interests and based on mutual respect.

He also emphasized that Iran behaves based on respect for Iraq’s sovereignty and that all problems can be resolved through targeted and constructive dialogues.

In the meeting, Al-Araji stressed that the ties between Baghdad and Tehran are distinct and strategic, and the two countries and two friendly nations of Iran and Iraq have many commonalities.

He went on to continue that reciprocal visits between Tehran and Baghdad indicate the depth of relations between the two countries and their common approach to dealing with risks and challenges, which requires direct solutions and should not be taken unilaterally.

The Iraqi National Security Advisor averred that constructive dialogue can solve all problems.

Both sides discussed the latest political and security developments in the region and strengthening bilateral relations at all levels.

This is the first trip of Ahmadian to the Arab country since he was appointed secretary of Iran’s top security body in June 2023.

His visit comes three days after the U.S. struck positions of resistance groups in Iraq and neighboring Syria in retaliation for the death of three American forces in a drone strike in Jordan on January 28.

Tehran, Baghdad and Damascus condemned the U.S. strikes as a violation of national sovereignty of Iraq and Syria.   

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian announced Ahmadian’s upcoming trip to Iraq.