Tehran: Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has called for an expansion of economic cooperation between Iran and Iraq. He emphasized that the bilateral economic relations should reflect the strong political and cultural ties between the two nations during discussions with his Iraqi counterpart on the first day of his official visit to Iraq.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Ghalibaf met with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi and a group of Iraqi lawmakers, alongside an Iranian parliamentary delegation, to discuss bilateral relations, regional developments, and parliamentary cooperation. During the meeting, Ghalibaf congratulated al-Halbousi on the formation of Iraq's parliament and his election as speaker. He expressed gratitude to the Iraqi government and people for the mass funeral procession held for the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and appreciated Iraq's hospitality toward Arbaeen pilgrims.

Ghalibaf criticized the United States and the UK for causing instability in the Middle East, attributing regional crises to their interventions. He highlighted Iran's resilience against US influence and emphasized the strategic value of resistance, stating that Iran's experience had shown the importance of preparation in both war and negotiations.

On the topic of bilateral cooperation, Ghalibaf stressed the need for stronger parliamentary engagement through friendship groups and regular exchanges between lawmakers. He identified the Shalamcheh-Basra railway, the dredging of the Arvand Rud, and deeper economic integration as priorities that both parliaments could advance in coordination with their governments. He pointed out that economic cooperation was weaker than the political and cultural relations between Iran and Iraq.

In response, Haibat al-Halbousi welcomed the Iranian delegation and described the mass funeral procession for Iran's martyred Leader as a significant moment in the emotional, spiritual, and political bond between the two countries. He praised the Iranian people's resistance against Israeli aggression and expressed Iraq's opposition to the Zionist regime's actions. Al-Halbousi also highlighted the need for the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq and called for expanded bilateral economic relations, including facilitating Iraq's oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz.