Iran’s New President Makes First Foreign Trip to Neighboring Iraq
President Masoud Pezeshkian, on his first foreign trip since taking office as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, began a two-day official visit to Iraq. This visit is significant for both Tehran and Washington, given Iraq’s strategic position and complex relationship with Iran. During his trip, Pezeshkian will visit Baghdad, Basra, and the Kurdish region of Erbil, following an invitation from Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani.
The relationship between Iran and Iraq is intricate, with Tehran exerting considerable influence over Iraq through Shiite religious, political, and paramilitary groups. However, tensions arise due to the presence of Iranian Kurdish armed groups in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, complicating relations between the two countries. In March 2023, Iran and Iraq signed a security agreement requiring Tehran to disarm these Kurdish parties and close their military camps by September 19, 2023.
Ahead of Pezeshkian’s visit, three Iranian Kurdish armed groups were relocated to a “less accessible” camp in Iraqi Kurdistan as part of the agreement. Iraq, hosting 2,500 US troops and Iran-backed militias, has been a rare partner to both the United States and Iran. Since 2019, tensions have flared with periodic attacks on US military bases in Iraq, escalating after the October 7 Hamas attack on Zionist entity and tapering off in February following US airstrikes.
Iran’s expectations from Iraq extend beyond the relocation of Kurdish groups to include demands for the extradition of separatist leaders and the disarming of militias. Additionally, Iran exports electricity to Iraq with US permission despite American sanctions, but recouping the proceeds has been problematic due to banking restrictions. Although the Biden administration allowed Iraq to pay $11 billion in debts to Iran indirectly last year, the issue of direct payments remains unresolved.
