Tehran: Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has affirmed that Iran maintains its commitment to logic and diplomacy in defending its rights, while simultaneously standing resolute and responding decisively to any acts of coercion or aggression.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Ghalibaf made these remarks during a meeting with Nechirvan Barzani, President of Iraq's Kurdistan Region, who visited Tehran to attend the farewell ceremony of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. The speaker highlighted Iran's dual approach of diplomacy and deterrence during periods of US-Israeli aggression against the nation.

Ghalibaf expressed gratitude for Barzani's visit, which was intended to honor Martyr Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and he also praised the Kurdistan Region's position during the US-Israeli confrontations with Iran. He underscored the importance of unity and mutual cooperation in resisting the oppression and criminal activities perpetrated by the United States and the Zionist regime.

The speaker pointed out that recent regional developments revealed attempts by hostile forces to target the Kurdistan Region as a base for their adversarial schemes against Iran. However, he noted that the historical cooperation in West Asia, along with the vigilance of the region's people and leaders, has thwarted these objectives. Ghalibaf expressed optimism about the continued growth of relations between Iran and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Barzani, in turn, conveyed his condolences on the martyrdom of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, emphasizing the shared grief between the people of the Kurdistan Region and the Iranian nation. He acknowledged Iran as a strategic partner for Iraq and noted that the Kurdistan Region had proactively deployed forces to its borders from the onset of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran to prevent any attacks from being launched from its territory.

Reflecting on his past interactions, Barzani recounted a meeting two years ago with the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, which he described as a pivotal moment in the relationship between the two sides. He added that Ayatollah Khamenei had spoken fondly of his late father during their conversation.