KDP delegation visits Iranian Embassy in Baghdad, discusses future of Iraq

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iran's ambassador to Iraq, Iraj Masjedi, stressed the historic importance of Tehran-Erbil relations and spoke in glowing terms of cooperation between the two in a joint press conference in Baghdad with Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) delegation head Fazil Mirani on Thursday.

The KDP delegation arrived in Baghdad two days before to meet with high-level officials of leading Iraqi coalitions to participate in post-election dealings that precede the formation of the next Iraqi government.

“We hope a strong government is established in Iraq” Masjedi stated, adding, “it is still early to form of a new government.”

He also highlighted the Islamic Republic’s “historic” relations, and “cooperation” with the Kurdistan Region.

Masjedi was appointed to the post of Ambassador to Iraq in April of 2017, before which he was a veteran of the Iran–Iraq War of the 1980s and a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (Quds Force) commander. He also served as a top advisor to controversial general Qassem Soleimani, a figure emblematic of Iranian influence in Iraq who came to Baghdad immediately following the elections in an apparent attempt to shore up support for parties most connected to Tehran, such as Hadi al-Amiri's Al-Fatih Coalition, and against top vote-getter Muqtada al-Sadr, often a critic of Iran.  

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is a friend of the Kurdistan Region,” Fazil Mirani chimed in.  “Iran has an important role in the region [Iraq].”

The KDP official went on to say that they had reached a “common conviction” on taking it slow in the process of government formation.

In a press conference with members of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) on Wednesday, Mirani emphasized the importance of unity between Kurdish parties to protect the achievements and rights of the people of the Kurdistan Region.

Editing by John J. Catherine