Baghdad: Iraq and the Islamic Republic of Iran signed a joint memorandum of understanding this evening to strengthen bilateral cooperation in combating drugs and psychotropic substances.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the signing ceremony was attended by Lt. Gen. Ahmed Saleh Hammoud, Director General of Drug Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Hossein Zolfaghari, Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Secretary-General of the Anti-Narcotics Authority, along with his accompanying delegation, as well as Dr. Zaid Ali Abbas, Director General of the Forensic Medicine Department at the Iraqi Ministry of Health, representing Iraq.

Discussions focused on a joint action plan to implement the provisions of the memorandum, including enhancing border-crossing monitoring mechanisms, carrying out simultaneous field operations, and strengthening the capacity of law enforcement agencies through reciprocal training workshops. The agreement also covered cooperation in reducing demand, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation, as well as developing scientific programs for awareness, addiction treatment, and rehabilitation of recovering addicts, in addition to stricter control over psychotropic substances and internationally regulated chemical precursors.

The Ministry of Health affirmed that the signing of this memorandum is in line with Iraq's international and regional commitments to combating drugs and reflects its keenness to protect society from the health and social risks of drug abuse, while fostering cooperation with partner countries to achieve common goals in this field.