Amidst the escalating conflict in Gaza, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian embarked on his first foreign trip since assuming office, choosing neighboring Iraq as his destination. This three-day visit, beginning on Wednesday, aimed to strengthen the already close ties between the two nations, particularly as the region grapples with the fallout from the Israel-Hamas war.
During his visit, Pezeshkian and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani expressed their shared opposition to any expansion of the conflict in Gaza. Both leaders stressed the importance of stability in the region, emphasizing their “common positions” on the matter. “In light of the escalation that the region has been going through, we have spoken a lot about the importance of stability; this stability threatened by the Zionist aggression in Gaza,” Sudani remarked.
Pezeshkian’s visit comes at a time when the Middle East is experiencing heightened tensions. The war in Gaza has drawn in Iran-backed armed groups, complicating Iraq’s relationship with the United States. The Iranian leader has vowed to prioritize relations with neighboring countries, aiming to alleviate Iran’s international isolation and mitigate the impact of US-led sanctions on its economy. “It was a very good opportunity to visit the friend and brother country of Iraq in my first foreign trip as the president of Iran,” he said.
The visit follows the announcement of fresh sanctions against Iran by Western powers for supplying Russia with short-range missiles. Iran has vehemently condemned these sanctions, vowing a proportionate response. This diplomatic tension further underscores the importance of Pezeshkian’s trip to Iraq, highlighting the need for Iran to strengthen its regional alliances.
The close relationship between Iran and Iraq, both Shiite-majority countries, has deepened since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. This bond has been strengthened by a shared desire to counter US influence in the region. Pezeshkian has emphasized that strengthening ties with neighboring countries is crucial to mitigating the pressure of sanctions imposed by the West. Iran has faced crippling sanctions for years, particularly since the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal.
Iran has emerged as one of Iraq’s key trading partners, wielding significant political influence in Baghdad. Millions of Iranian pilgrims annually visit the Shiite holy cities of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq. Non-oil trade between the two countries has reached nearly $5 billion in the first five months of 2024. Iran also supplies Iraq with millions of cubic meters of natural gas daily to power its electricity plants, despite US sanctions. Iraq remains heavily indebted for these energy imports, which account for 30% of its electricity needs.
The US presence in Iraq, although reduced, remains significant. Washington maintains around 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in neighboring Syria, as part of a coalition against the Islamic State jihadist group. Recent tensions have flared between the US and Iran-backed groups in both countries, prompting retaliatory airstrikes by the US. Iraq’s defense minister has announced that the US-led coalition will withdraw from most of Iraq by September 2025 and the Kurdish autonomous region by September 2026.
Pezeshkian’s visit to Iraq underscores the complex and intertwined nature of regional politics in the Middle East. The ongoing conflict in Gaza, US sanctions on Iran, and the evolving relationship between Iran and Iraq are all interconnected factors shaping the future of the region. As Pezeshkian continues his visit, it remains to be seen what concrete outcomes will emerge from this significant diplomatic engagement.
