WANA (May 05) – In a phone call between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iraq’s Prime Minister-designate Ali Faleh al-Zaidi, the Iranian leader congratulated his Iraqi counterpart on his appointment and emphasized Tehran’s readiness to expand comprehensive relations with Baghdad, describing the ties as “beyond neighborly.”

 

According to the report, Pezeshkian, during the Tuesday evening call, wished al-Zaidi success in his new role and stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran regards the government and people of Iraq as “brothers,” supporting all efforts aimed at strengthening coordination and expanding bilateral cooperation. He expressed hope that Iraq’s new government would overcome economic challenges and pave the way for greater stability and growth through expertise and prudent governance.

 

The Iranian president also addressed regional developments, highlighting the need to reduce tensions and end pressures on countries in the region. He criticized Washington’s approach, saying that combining maximum pressure with calls for negotiations represents a “contradictory equation” that cannot yield results.

 

Pezeshkian further noted that Iran remains open to dialogue within the framework of international law but “will not submit to coercion.” He added that negotiations based on logic and mutual respect can move forward, whereas threats and pressure are ineffective.

 

Emphasizing Iran’s scientific achievements in fields such as medicine, agriculture, industry, and nuclear technology, he stressed that utilizing these capacities is the country’s right and should not be restricted by external pressure.

 

The president also invited Iraq’s new prime minister to visit Tehran for official talks aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation and advancing agreements. He underlined the importance of unity in the Islamic world and called for resolving regional disputes through dialogue.

 

For his part, al-Zaidi expressed satisfaction with the conversation and said Baghdad would work to elevate relations with Tehran across political, economic, and security spheres. He described Iran-Iraq relations as “two bodies with a shared soul,” emphasizing deep historical and cultural ties.

 

The Iraqi prime minister-designate also announced Baghdad’s readiness to host potential negotiations between Iran and the United States, calling it a humanitarian and political responsibility. He highlighted Iran’s role in the region, stating that its strength serves as support for regional stability and that cooperation between the two countries is essential.

 

Al-Zaidi concluded by stressing the importance of focusing on common ground, noting that differences between countries are natural but can only be resolved through dialogue.