Baghdad, Iraq – Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf arrived in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Wednesday for an official visit aimed, according to his statements, at taking significant and practical steps to enhance bilateral security between Tehran and Baghdad. In a post on the “X” platform, Ghalibaf emphasized that this visit is intended to solidify the individual and shared security of both countries and to achieve prosperity for the two brotherly nations.
He was received at Baghdad International Airport by the First Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Adnan Faihan al-Dulaimi. Al-Dulaimi welcomed the Iranian delegation, highlighting the deep historical ties and fraternal bonds between the two countries. He also emphasized the importance of this visit in expanding parliamentary cooperation and joint coordination to serve mutual interests.
The aftermath of the drone attack on Masrour Barzani’s office
The Iranian official’s visit comes at a sensitive time, following a drone attack targeting the office of the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Masrour Barzani. The region’s Counter-Terrorism Service reported that the attack was carried out early Monday morning by two Heidel-110 drones launched from the direction of the Iranian border. The drones targeted Barzani’s office and the residence of the head of the security agency. The Service strongly condemned the attack and held the perpetrators fully responsible.
Diplomatic communications and the official Iraqi position
On the diplomatic front, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein contacted his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araqchi, by phone, demanding clarification of Iran’s official position on the attack. The federal government also intervened in the crisis, with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Zaidi strongly condemning the attack, considering it a direct assault on Iraq’s security and stability. He emphasized that any threat to the security of the Kurdistan Region is a threat to Iraq’s national security as a whole. Zaidi stressed the government’s categorical rejection of any attack targeting Iraqi territory or institutions. He affirmed that the state will not tolerate any infringement on its sovereignty and will pursue those involved within the framework of the law.
