WANA (Aug 19) – Iranian Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf met on Wednesday morning with Heybet al-Halbousi, the Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, alongside a delegation of Iraqi lawmakers to discuss bilateral ties and regional security.

 

During the meeting, Ghalibaf expressed deep gratitude to the Iraqi government, nation, tribes, and political leaders for their hospitality during the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage and for their presence during the funeral ceremonies of the late Supreme Leader.

 

Addressing regional conflict, Ghalibaf identified foreign intervention as the core driver of current crises. “Criminal America and its interventions are to blame for all the issues and crises in the region,” Ghalibaf stated, also referring to Israel as a “cancerous tumor” created by British intervention that continues to inflict damage across the Middle East.

 

Ghalibaf emphasized that the Iranian public and armed forces, operating under the strategic direction of the Commander-in-Chief, have shattered American hegemony. He noted that the United States currently finds itself in a dilemma where exiting regional conflicts damages its credibility, while continuing them creates further complications.

 

“Resistance is the only path to victory, and if we are not prepared for war, negotiations will yield no results,” Ghalibaf warned, while stressing that expanding parliamentary ties through friendship groups will remain key to bolstering bilateral coordination.

 

On economic issues, Ghalibaf highlighted key joint infrastructure efforts, including the Shalamcheh–Basra railway connection and the dredging of the Arvand river, calling on both parliaments to support their respective executives. He noted that economic engagement between Tehran and Baghdad currently lags behind their strong political and cultural bonds.

 

In response, Iraqi Speaker Heybet al-Halbousi described the mass funeral processions for the late Supreme Leader as a milestone in the emotional, spiritual, and political connection between the two nations, while praising the Iranian public’s steadfast response to Israeli aggression.

 

Al-Halbousi affirmed that the Iraqi government, its citizens, and its political factions stand united against military action directed at Iran, echoing the stance that the Israeli regime represents a threat to regional stability.