BAGHDAD, Aug 19 (Alliance News): Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Wednesday called for strengthening what he described as a “new order” in the region during the first stop of his three-day visit to Iraq.
Speaking near Baghdad airport, where Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was killed in a 2020 US strike, Ghalibaf said his visit aimed to strengthen regional cooperation and promote closer ties among countries without foreign interference.
He also described resistance factions in Iraq as an important element of the country’s power, saying the concept of resistance had expanded beyond Iran and Iraq.
Ghalibaf was scheduled to meet Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and the Coordination Framework, the largest parliamentary bloc comprising Shia parties with varying ties to Tehran.
Iraq is facing growing pressure from the United States to disarm Iran-aligned factions and place all weapons under state control. Zaidi has given resistance groups until September 30 to hand over their weapons, but some powerful factions have rejected the demand.
Ghalibaf’s visit comes as Iraq continues to balance relations between Iran and the United States amid wider regional tensions and attacks involving Iran-backed groups.
On Thursday, Ghalibaf is scheduled to travel to the holy city of Karbala to attend ceremonies marking 40 days since the death of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
