WANA (Aug 19) – Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf met on Wednesday morning with Iraqi President Nizar Amidi to discuss bilateral cooperation, regional security, and economic initiatives.

 

Opening the meeting, Ghalibaf expressed gratitude on behalf of Iran’s president, the Iranian public, and the household of the late Supreme Leader to President Amidi for attending the funeral ceremonies in Iran, as well as thanking the millions of Iraqi citizens who gathered for mourning processions across Iraq.

 

Ghalibaf noted that while past figures like Saddam Hussein committed atrocities against both nations under foreign influence, the peoples of Iran and Iraq stood together in the post-Saddam era. He attributed the close ties between the two nations to the strategic vision of the late Supreme Leader.

 

Directing criticism toward foreign involvement, Ghalibaf identified the United States and the Israeli regime as the primary sources of regional instability. He stated that recent conflicts have inflicted severe damages on both Iran and Iraq, adding that Arab and Persian Gulf states must recognize that Washington does not guarantee their security.

 

“Regional countries know—and recent conflicts have proven—that the Americans are not guardians of their security, but rather the destroyers of their peace,” Ghalibaf said, asserting that the US seeks to exploit regional resources. He emphasized that Islamic and Persian Gulf nations can ensure stability through unity without foreign interference, pointing out that joint economic initiatives—such as the Shalamcheh railway connection, the dredging of the Arvand river, and the expansion of border markets—remain crucial drivers for bilateral growth.

 

In response, Iraqi President Nizar Amidi described recent military actions as inhumane violations of international law that have caused severe repercussions across the Middle East. He reaffirmed that Iraq relies on its strategic position, natural resources, and spirit of resistance while serving as a stabilizing presence.

 

“The state of ‘neither war nor peace’ between Iran and the United States must come to an end, and we call for a conclusion to the conflict,” President Amidi stated, emphasizing that regional security is interconnected and confirming that Iraq will continue to support the Islamic Republic of Iran in promoting regional stability.

Ghalibaf Meets with Iraqi President During Visit to Iraq on Aug 19, 2026. Social media/ WANA News Agency