SAEDNEWS: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed the urgent need to complete the strategic railroad connecting Iran’s Shalamcheh to Iraq’s Basrah, calling it a priority for strengthening bilateral ties.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian made the remarks during a meeting with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid on Friday afternoon, held on the sidelines of the International Forum of Peace and Trust in Turkmenistan.
During the meeting, Pezeshkian congratulated Iraq on holding what he described as “vibrant, healthy, and problem-free” elections, expressing hope that the formation of a strong parliament and government would accelerate the country’s development.
He highlighted the excellent level of relations between Iran and Iraq, saying the Iranian administration feels a genuine sense of kinship, brotherhood, and friendship toward the Iraqi government and people. Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s firm determination to strengthen and expand cooperation with Iraq across all sectors.
Stressing the importance of closer ties between the two neighbors, the Iranian president underlined the need to enhance cooperation among business communities, universities, and industries. He noted that joint investment projects and expanded border exchanges remain key priorities for Tehran.
Pezeshkian added that special authority has been granted to governors of Iran’s border provinces to make use of existing capacities and boost bilateral exchanges. He also described the linkage of the two countries’ rail networks as essential, reaffirming that completion of the Basrah–Shalamcheh railway project is among Iran’s top priorities.
The Iranian president warned about the destructive role of the Zionist regime in the region, denouncing it as a “cancerous tumor.” He said the Israeli regime seeks to obstruct scientific, cultural, economic, political, and industrial cooperation among Muslim nations, while fueling ethnic and sectarian divisions.
According to Pezeshkian, the only effective way to counter these efforts is by expanding cooperation, pursuing joint investments, and promoting exchanges that bring regional nations closer together. He emphasized the need to avoid tensions, noting that division serves the agenda of enemies, particularly the Zionist regime.
He further stressed the importance of active diplomacy to convey the legitimate demands of regional nations to international forums and to what he described as the “deaf ears” of European and American governments.
For his part, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid expressed satisfaction with the meeting and reviewed the successful conduct of Iraq’s elections. He described Iran as Iraq’s most important neighbor, emphasizing that the security of the two countries is closely intertwined and that Iraq will never forget Iran’s consistent support.
Rashid condemned Israeli aggression against Palestine and other countries in the region, including Iran, stressing the need for regional states to adopt clear and firm positions. He said the Zionist regime is the main source of regional problems and obstructs constructive relations not only through military aggression but also in commercial and economic domains.
In light of these challenges, the Iraqi president said regional countries, including Iran and Iraq, must launch a strong and active campaign within European institutions and the United Nations to explain their positions regarding Israeli threats.
Rashid also emphasized the need to expand security, commercial, industrial, scientific, and cultural cooperation between Tehran and Baghdad. He called for sharing experiences and intensifying the exchange of delegations, adding that any attempt to undermine Iran would be viewed by Iraq as an act of hostility against itself.
