Tehran: Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has met with Iraqi President Nizar Mohammed Saeed Amidi during his visit to Baghdad. Earlier in the day, Ghalibaf, along with an Iranian parliamentary delegation, paid a visit to the site in Baghdad where Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were assassinated in a US airstrike in 2020, paying homage to the two commanders.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, during the meeting with President Amidi, Ghalibaf emphasized the solidarity between Iran and Iraq during turbulent times. Reflecting on the past, he noted that although former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, with American support, committed atrocities in both nations, the people of Iran and Iraq have remained united, especially post-Saddam.

Ghalibaf paid tribute to the memory of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, acknowledging his role in fostering stronger ties between Islamic nations. He highlighted the martyred Leader's vision, which has played a critical role in bringing Iran and Iraq closer together.

Addressing recent geopolitical tensions, Ghalibaf criticized the United States and Israel, attributing the root of regional conflicts to their actions. He argued that the US's hegemonic ambitions, along with the Zionist regime's influence, have led to wars that have significantly impacted Iran and Iraq.

Focusing on the Persian Gulf, he accused the United States of disrupting regional stability for resource exploitation. He warned that the US's actions in the region reveal its role as a destabilizing force rather than a protector.

In response, President Amidi condemned the recent war impacting Iran and the region as unlawful and harmful. He described Iran and Iraq as 'one nation living in two lands' and reiterated Iraq's commitment to resistance, emphasizing Iraq's strategic resources and historical heritage.

Amidi called for an end to the precarious state between Iran and the US, advocating for comprehensive regional security through cooperation among regional nations. He affirmed Iraq's steadfast support for the Islamic Republic of Iran, positioning Iraq as a proponent of regional stability.