Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi emphasized diplomacy as a crucial tool for maintaining stability in the West Asia region during his recent visit to Baghdad. Araqchi attended the 52nd session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), where he met with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Saturday to discuss bilateral relations and regional challenges.
Araqchi thanked the Iraqi government and people for hosting the OIC meeting and highlighted the need for utilizing the organization’s capabilities to address issues affecting the Muslim world, notably the situation regarding Palestine and the perceived expansionism of Israel.
Highlighting the longstanding ties between Iran and Iraq, Araqchi expressed Iran’s commitment to fortify relations with Iraq across various areas of mutual interest. He articulated Iran’s perspective on regional peace, attributing the root causes of insecurity to Israeli occupation and aggression. He specifically referred to military actions taken by Israel against Lebanon, Syria, and Iran over the past three years, labeling them as threats to global peace and security.
Araqchi asserted that Iran aims to engage in diplomatic efforts to curb instability, while criticizing the United States for allegedly undermining diplomatic processes through breaches of commitments and use of force, which he claimed has contributed to insecurity in international maritime shipping.
The discussions between Araqchi and Prime Minister Al-Zaidi also included the ongoing conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, strategies to alleviate the naval blockade affecting Yemen, and initiatives to reduce tensions in the region.
