Iran Press/West Asia: Pezeshkian, who is on his first foreign visit since taking office in August, arrived in Erbil today after beginning his trip in Baghdad. Upon arrival in the Kurdistan Region, he was welcomed by Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
During his visit, Pezeshkian emphasized the importance of strengthening relations between Iran and the Kurdistan Region. In an interview with Kurdish media outlet Rudaw, the Iranian president said, "The current relations between Iran and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq are strong, and with God's help, we aim to further improve them."
Pezeshkian's trip began earlier this week with meetings in the Iraqi capital, where he met his Iraqi counterpart, President Abdul Latif Rashid, and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani. At a joint press conference, Pezeshkian underscored the need for swift implementation of security agreements between Iran and Iraq, particularly focusing on enhancing regional cooperation.
The Iranian president is leading a high-level delegation of political and economic officials, reflecting the importance of this state visit in boosting bilateral ties. He also plans to visit holy sites in Najaf and Karbala, including the shrines of Imam Ali (AS) and Imam Hussain (AS), before touring Iranian-run development projects in the southern city of Basra.
President Pezeshkian’s stop in the Kurdistan Region is seen as a significant step in fostering closer cooperation between Tehran and the semi-autonomous region in northern Iraq, with discussions focusing on security, trade, and political collaboration.
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