Senior Iranian and Iraqi commanders hold talks

 MEHR NEWS – In a meeting in Tehran on Sunday, Iraqi Chief of Staff General Babakr Zibari and IRGC Ground Forces Commander Mohammad Pakpour stressed the need for closer ties between Tehran and Baghdad.

Commander Pakpour, who hosted General Zibari and his accompanying delegation, hoped the trip will help strengthen bilateral ties.

Pakpur said the Iraqi people have endured many problems and difficulties over the past ten years, however, a gradual withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq has created an opportunity in which Iraqi people and officials can directly govern their country.

He called the Islamic Republic of Iran a friendly neighbor of Iraq which enjoy deep political and cultural affinities, and praised Iraqis’ endeavors in their fight against terrorism to make the country “secure and terrorism-free”.

For his part, Zibari said currently the security situation in Iraq is good but there are still many challenges and “we hope Iraqi forces would tackle problems.”

Zibari added that his trip to Iran has been aimed at expanding ties with Iran because “there should be close relations between the two neighbors.”