PUK leader meets Iran's foreign minister in Tehran
Tehran - BORNA - Speaking at the meeting, held at the Foreign Ministry, Araghchi pointed to Iran's strong and constructive relations with the government and people of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, stressing the extensive potential in the two countries' border areas and describing the outlook for Iran-Iraq relations, particularly with the Kurdistan Region, as clear and promising.
Araghchi affirmed Iran's readiness to strengthen and expand relations with the Kurdistan Region, particularly Sulaymaniyah province, focusing on expanding economic and trade exchanges, improving security coordination along shared borders, and countering terrorism.
Referring to recent terrorist activity along the shared border and attempts by adversaries to exploit the situation, Araghchi stressed the need to strengthen cooperation to protect the security of shared borders under the two countries' bilateral security understanding. "Our Kurdish friends and all countries in the region must remain alert to false-flag tactics designed to sow discord among neighbors," he said.
Talabani, for his part, expressed satisfaction with his visit to Tehran and his meeting with Araghchi, pointing to the historic, brotherly and friendly ties between the peoples of Iran, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, and thanking Iran for its continued support of the Iraqi government and people.
Talabani described Iran as the strongest and most consistent supporter of the Iraqi people. "We take pride in our relations and friendship with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and we are committed to comprehensively strengthening cooperation and relations across various fields, particularly political, security, economic and trade," he said.
He also stressed coordination between Iran and Iraq in implementing their bilateral security agreement and disarming terrorist groups that threaten the security of both countries. "Iraq and the Kurdistan Region will never allow their territory to become a base for harming or threatening the security of regional countries, particularly the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said.
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