Iraq Denies Signing New Security Agreement with Iran, Clarifies Border Security MoU
According to the statement, coordination efforts had been underway to formalize this protocol into an MoU with the same content, covering border security, security cooperation, and issues concerning five Iranian Kurdish opposition parties.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Iraq’s National Security Advisory on Wednesday rejected claims that Baghdad had signed a new security agreement with Iran during the visit of the Islamic Republic’s National Security Council Secretary General, Ali Larijani, stressing that the recent signing pertained to an existing border security memorandum of understanding (MoU).
In a statement, the Media Office of the National Security Advisory said some media outlets and political talk shows had inaccurately reported that a fresh security pact was concluded during Larijani’s visit to Baghdad.
The clarification emphasized that Iraq has had a security protocol in place with Iran since March 19, 2023, formally known as the Joint Security Agreement on border control and the neutralization of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in the [Kurdistan] Region.
According to the statement, coordination efforts had been underway to formalize this protocol into a memorandum of understanding with the same content, covering border security, security cooperation, and issues concerning five Iranian Kurdish opposition parties. The document was prepared over time, approved by Iraq’s Council of Ministers, and was awaiting signature.
The Advisory explained that a visit by former Iranian security chief Dr. Ali Akbar Ahmadian had been scheduled before Larijani’s appointment. Following Larijani’s assumption of office, he visited Baghdad, and the MoU was signed in the presence and under the supervision of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.
It stressed that the MoU’s preparation predated the recent “Zionist aggression against Iran” and that it was finalized and signed during the visit as planned.
“The Iraqi National Security Advisory affirms that there is no new security agreement between the two countries; rather, it is a security memorandum of understanding,” the statement said, urging media outlets and satellite channels to ensure accuracy and rely on official sources.