Iran, Iraq sign joint security agreement

Top security officials of Iran and Iraq signed a joint memorandum of understanding on security issues in Baghdad on Monday, Mehr News Agency reported.

The security agreement was signed between the newly-appointed Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani and the Iraqi National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji in Baghdad. 

Ali Larijani has embarked on a two-nation regional trip to Iraq and Lebanon. On the first leg of his tour, he arrived in Baghdad on Monday and was welcomed by Iraqi National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji.

“We have drafted a security agreement with Iraq, which is a very important issue. Iran's perspective and approach in relations with its neighbors are based on [the fact] that the security of Iranians is the focal point but Iran also pays attention to the security of the neighboring countries,” he said before his departure, Mehr reported.

He noted that Iran’s security is intertwined with that of neighboring countries.

The Iranian security chief explained that he plans to discuss ways to expand Tehran-Baghdad cooperation in meetings with top Iraqi officials.

In March 2023, Iran and Iraq signed a security agreement in Baghdad, encompassing coordination in protecting the shared border.