Araghchi: U.S. withdrawal from Ain al-Asad signals strengthened stability in Iraq

Pars Today – Iran’s Foreign Minister said that the U.S. exit from Ain al-Asad and the handover of the base to Baghdad is a sign of strengthened stability and sovereignty in Iraq.

On Sunday, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, after meeting and consulting with Fouad Hussein, Iraq’s foreign minister, described the evacuation of the Ain al-Asad base by U.S. forces and its transfer to the Iraqi government as a sign of enhanced political stability and sovereignty in Iraq.

According to Pars Today, Araghchi noted that the Iran-Iraq borders have become borders of friendship and cooperation in various fields, including economic and trade sectors, and expressed hope that Iraq’s new government will be formed soon.

He emphasized Iraq’s growing regional role, stating that the Iraqi government can play a positive role in aligning the positions and perspectives of countries in the region, and that Iran is ready to cooperate with Iraq in this regard.

The Iranian foreign minister added that there is a “mutual share of security interests and challenges between Iran and Iraq,” and said that Iran seeks a stable, independent Iraq with strong political sovereignty, noting that Iraq possesses all the necessary capacities to achieve this status.

Araghchi, referring to the people-to-people connections between the two nations and the presence of some Iraqi students studying in Iran, added that Iran is ready to facilitate and expedite movement between the people of the two countries.

The head of Iran’s diplomacy also highlighted the economic cooperation between Iran and Iraq and the need to further expand it, saying that while current trade relations are at a good level, there is significant capacity to develop them even further.

Iraq’s Foreign Minister, expressing his pleasure at visiting Tehran, said that the security of Iraq and Iran is an integral part of regional security, and that the security of the Iranian people is important for Iraq, just as regional security is important.

Fouad Hussein emphasized that exchanging views between Iran and Iraq is particularly important under the current circumstances, as Baghdad stresses the principle of the “indivisibility of regional security” and believes that the stability of each country guarantees the security of its neighbors. Within this framework, he called for continued consultations to address regional challenges, while underlining the necessity of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.