Iran's Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf arrives in Iraq for three-day visit

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf embarked on a three-day official visit to Iraq on Wednesday amid heightened tensions between Baghdad and Iran-backed militias over disarmament. Upon landing at Baghdad International Airport, he was greeted by First Deputy Speaker Adnan Al Fayhan. The itinerary includes visits to Karbala and Najaf, both significant Shiite cities.

The trip is set to conclude on Friday. The visit unfolds as Iraq faces a September 30 deadline for disarming armed groups, a matter of contention with factions allied to Iran. Simultaneously, Iraq and Iran are engaged in discussions on permitting Iraqi oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz. Ghalibaf's visit signals Tehran's commitment to maintaining strong political and security ties with Baghdad as both nations grapple with regional security issues and economic challenges.

His initial meetings include those with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Haibat Al Halbousi and President Nizar Mir. The Iranian delegation will also engage with Iraqi counterparts at the Council of Ministers and the Co-ordination Framework, the prominent Shiite bloc in parliament. Ghalibaf will meet with the Chief of Judiciary Council Faiq Zaidan and National Security Adviser Qassem Al Aboudi on Thursday.

The following day, he heads to Karbala for a ceremony honoring late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. His final stop will be in Najaf, where he will visit the tomb of Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis, an Iraqi militia leader who perished alongside Iran's Quds Force commander Qassem Suleimani in a 2019 U.S. strike.