Ahmad Reza Tahari, a West Asian political analyst, discussed the objectives of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Iraq in an interview with Hayat’s political reporter. Taheri highlighted the significance of Iraq for Iran, particularly after Saddam Hussein’s overthrow, stating that Pezeshkian’s visit is aimed at maintaining close relations and reinforcing the alliance between the two nations.
Taheri emphasized that it is crucial for Iraq to uphold relations with Iran, as Iraq relies on Iran to balance its relations with regional and global powers. He suggested that the message of this visit is to solidify Iran’s position in Iraq and the region, while countering US policies targeting the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Expanding on the issue, Taheri noted that one of the key objectives of Pezeshkian’s visit is to address the regional tensions that have entangled both Iran and Iraq in the Middle East. Nevertheless, the success of these diplomatic efforts in enhancing bilateral relations between the two states is contingent on the policies implementing by each country.
Addressing counter-terrorism strategies, Ahmad R Taheri suggested that Iran and Iraq can collaborate on their shared regional interests to combat terrorism in two ways: joint military operations and common cultural policies. Strengthening security and military measures would help target terrorists and diminish their influence, while culturally, both states should work to counteract extremist ideologies. Promoting moderate and accurate interpretations of Islam can be highly effective in reducing religious terrorism.
When asked whether Pezeshkian’s visit would help resolve regional crises, Taheri emphasized over the importance of cautious and forward-thinking decision-making. He added, with different regional competitors and different national interests, it is difficult to predict the visit’s impact on resolving regional issues. However, multiple analyses can be presented based on different hypotheses, but providing a definitive conclusion on the matter is not feasible.
Published in Persian on hayat.ir/x4jpN and translated to English by TECODH. 12 September 2024.