The Significance of Hashemi Rafsanjani’s Visit to Iraq

Hashemi’s visit to Iraq is an opportunity to discuss basic economic and political issues.

Head of the Expediency Council, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has made a visit to Iraq. This is Hashemi’s first visit as an Iranian official to this neighbor country.

Middle East expert and former ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammad Ali Sobhani, has commented on Hashemi’s visit for Iranian Diplomacy:

Considering Hashemi Rafsanjani’s distinguished position in Islamic Republic’s political structure, and his role as commander of the war against Iraq, his visit is highly important. Hashemi’s visit to Iraq right after Jalal Talebani met Iranian officials in Tehran shows that the Iraqi president’s visit was not planned in advance. However, Talebani’s visit will not overshadow Hashemi’s travel to Iraq, since Iran’s former president can play a definitive role in Iran-Iraq ties regarding his personal characteristics.

Fortunately post-Saddam Iraq is moving in the right path of democratization, political progress and institutionalization of governmental structures. Now it seems as the best time to discuss more fundamental issues of Tehran-Baghdad relations.

Fundamental Issues

The most basic issue between Tehran and Baghdad is their disagreement over borders. The Iraqi government should finalize and accept the 1975 treaty. Next is the future of the Iraqi state and its connection with the future of Iran-Iraq ties. Iraq is now hosting foreign troops. This is going to end one day and that’s when Iraq should have stabilized its political status and structure. Recent developments in this country, particularly the peaceful provincial council elections show that Iraq is moving that way.

Most probably besides discussing bilateral ties, Hashemi will focus on strategic ties between Tehran and Baghdad. Iran and Iraq are both wealthy countries and their economic ties can have a deep impact on the future of Middle East. Such issues are more important than talks about reparations which Iraq has to pay.

Cooperation between Iran and Iraq within regional pacts can change the face of the region. If Iran and Iraq, besides Syria and Turkey manage to define quadrilateral strategic relations based on common interests, many a great number of unachieved regional goals will be accomplished and open a new promising prospect for Middle East.