Iraq PM, Iran president vow to fight 'terror'
Tehran and Baghdad identified fighting "terrorism", maintaining mutual security and extending economic cooperation as key priorities during the new Iraqi prime minister's first official visit to Iran.
Mohammed Shia al-Sudani was received by President Ebrahim Raisi, who expressed hopes of bolstering ties that have lately been hit by tensions over Iran carrying out cross-border strikes against exiled opposition groups.
"From our perspective and that of the Iraqi government, security, peace, cooperation and regional stability are very important," Raisi told a joint press conference.
"As a result, the fight against terrorist groups, organised crime, drugs and other insecurity that threaten the region depends on the common will of our two nations," he said.
Raisi said banking, finance and wider business topics were also discussed and that talks between the two allies "will help to resolve bilateral problems".
Sudani said that "our government is determined not to allow any group or party to use Iraqi territory to undermine and disrupt Iran's security."
Since nationwide protests erupted in Iran more than two months ago, Iranian officials have accused Kurdish opposition groups exiled in northern Iraq of stoking the unrest and the Islamic republic has repeatedly launched deadly cross-border strikes.
Iraq has announced in the past week that it will redeploy federal guards on the border between Iraqi Kurdistan and Iran, rather than leaving the responsibility to Kurdish peshmerga forces -- a move welcomed by Tehran.
