Iraq and Iran have established a security agreement along their mutual border.
In a significant move towards strengthening bilateral relations, Iran and Iraq have signed a security agreement aimed at enhancing protection along their shared border. This pact, which establishes a framework for mutual commitment to security cooperation, is intended to prevent any groups or third countries from using either country’s territory to destabilize the other.
During his visit to Baghdad, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani met with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, as well as National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji. The discussions focused on reinforcing the Iran-Iraq security partnership and exploring steps that could potentially escalate regional or international conflict.
For Iraq, closer ties with Iran are seen as a means to prevent regional escalation and boost economic integration through infrastructure projects like the Development Road. Iran, on the other hand, views Iraq as a strategic counterweight to Israeli military moves in the region.
The security pact reflects both countries' desire to safeguard regional stability and resist foreign interference. It involves coordination on border security and limiting operations by opposition groups, updating a previous March 2023 security cooperation arrangement. However, the agreement has drawn criticism and concern internationally, especially from the United States, which views it as potentially increasing Iran’s influence over Iraq and limiting Iraq’s sovereignty.
Iraqi officials have defended the pact, emphasizing Iraq’s right to independent foreign policy decisions. Sudani reiterated Iraq's support for dialogue between the United States and Iran, reaffirming Iraq's rejection of Israeli attacks against Iran during the meetings. The agreement between Iraq and Iran holds significant regional diplomatic weight, given the current heightened tensions between Iran and Israel.
The impact of this agreement on the shared border is a likely decrease in militant cross-border infiltration, tighter joint security operations, and a firmer stance against anti-Iranian Kurdish groups. On regional dynamics, it signals deeper Iraq-Iran security ties amid a complex geopolitical environment—where Iraq balances relations with Iran, the U.S., and Gulf states. It may reinforce Iran’s strategic influence in Iraq but could also prompt Iraq to navigate pressures from the U.S. and Gulf powers seeking to counterbalance Tehran, especially as Iraq simultaneously cultivates economic ties with Saudi Arabia and engages with the broader Middle East security architecture.
The security pact does not mention any specific regional projects or economic ties beyond the Development Road project. It is a strategic move to consolidate border security and counter destabilizing forces, shaping Iraq’s regional alignments and sovereignty assertions amid external pressures.
- In contrast to the Bilateral security agreement between Iran and Iraq, Turkey, specifically Istanbul, remains largely unaffected by the policy-and-legislation regarding regional stability and foreign interference, as its political landscape and general news primarily revolve around domestic issues.
- As the world watches the progression of events between Iran and Iraq, the diplomatic relationship between Turkey and Iraq in terms of policy-and-legislation, politics, and general news will likely continue to evolve, particularly in light of Iraq's independent foreign policy decisions and the potential strategic influence Iran may exert in Iraq.
