Baghdad: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, currently visiting Iraq for the Arba'een pilgrimage to the shrine of Imam Hussein, emphasized that the rituals are a powerful demonstration of unity between the Iraqi and Iranian peoples. He highlighted the strong relationship with the Iraqi government, noting ongoing cooperation in economic, trade, security, and border issues.
According to Iraqi News Agency, Araghchi, speaking to the agency, shared insights into his visit, stating, "I arrived today in the holy city of Najaf, and I am on my way to Karbala to commemorate Arba'een. In Najaf, I witnessed the high level of preparations and arrangements made for the visitors. Everyone expressed their satisfaction with the level of services provided this year compared to the previous year, which reflects the continuous improvement in the organization of this event year after year."
Araghchi further elaborated on the significance of these ceremonies, saying, "These ceremonies demonstrate the unity of the Iraqi and Iranian peoples, with participants from both countries constituting the majority. This embodies the strength of the religious and ideological ties between the two nations. This solidarity was clearly evident previously during the funeral procession for the martyred Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which underscored the depth of sentiment and the deep-rooted unity between the two peoples."
Discussing bilateral relations, Araghchi remarked, "Fortunately, our relations with the Iraqi government are currently at their best. The recent visit of the Iraqi Prime Minister to Tehran witnessed very fruitful discussions."
He noted the close cooperation between Iran and Iraq, which spans various political fields with unified positions on common issues, as well as economic and security matters. This includes close coordination on securing borders, regulating trade through them, and developing joint transit routes.