Iraqi, Iranian FMs discuss security agreement, regional developments

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein, met on Monday with the Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, to discuss the application of the security agreement between the two countries and the latest regional developments.

The two ministers held their meeting on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, according to a statement issued by the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.

Both sides talked about issues of common interest and the efforts of the Iraqi government, in coordination with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), to apply the security agreement between Iraq and Iran.

The meeting between the officials also addressed the latest developments in US-Iranian relations, particularly after five US citizens were freed in exchange for the release of around six billion euros held by South Korea.

Additionally, the two sides discussed the political and security developments in the region as well as relations between Iraq and Gulf countries to promote security and stability in the region.

Last year, Iran bombarded more than once the sites of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups, whom Tehran accuses of participating in the protests that shook Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022, after she was arrested by the Iranian morality police.

The two countries concluded a security agreement last March, but Tehran demands that Iraq disarm Iranian Kurdish opposition groups by September 19 and evacuate them to camps.

Hussein stated earlier that these groups have been in the Kurdistan region of Iraq for four or five decades.

Hussein also elaborated that these groups have been moved from the border areas with Iran to remote camps in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

In late August, the spokesperson of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Nasser Kanaani, said the date set to disarm and move opposition groups from the Iraqi-Iranian border would not be extended.