ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi was hosted by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran on Thursday, where the two sides signed four agreements, Zaidi's office reported, adding that the premier also led "expanded" bilateral talks with Iranian officials on economy, security and other issues of mutual interest.
Zaidi and Pezeshkian attended a signing ceremony for the four agreements and memoranda of understanding, which aim to "enhance bilateral cooperation and partnership," his office said in a statement.
The accords comprised an international road transport and freight agreement and an MoU for extending a railway line from Kermanshah in western Iran through the border town of Khosravi to Khanaqin in eastern Iraq, and on to Baghdad.
Another MoU was signed for a twinning partnership between the Baghdad mayoralty and the Tehran municipality, alongside a fourth agreement on public administration and human resource training, the statement added.
In a separate statement, Zaidi's office said the premier led the Iraqi delegation in expanded talks with the Iranian side, headed by Pezeshkian.
During the meeting, he raised regional security as a matter of mutual interest, affirming that "no threat to Iran originating from Iraqi territory will be permitted." Zaidi also credited Tehran with "support for Iraq" during its 2014-2017 war against the Islamic State (ISIS).
The visit to Iran "reflects the depth of the relationship [with Iraq] and serves as a renewal of it, representing a bridge of affection between the two peoples," Zaidi said, pointing to the countries' "shared partnership... in religion, civilization, geography, and culture."
For his part, the Iranian President was quoted as expressing “his gratitude for the generous gesture of the Iraqi people” who recently held a funeral procession, that saw the participation of some 10 million Iraqis according to official figures from Baghdad, for Iran’s late supreme leader Ali Khamenei (1939 - 2026).
Pezeshkian "pointed to the deep commonalities between the two peoples, emphasizing that security and stability are crucial and positively impact bilateral development efforts," while underlining the "significant joint investment opportunities between the two countries."
Zaidi's trip to Tehran comes shortly after his return to Iraq on Sunday from a five-day visit to the US, where he met with President Donald Trump, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and several other senior officials.
It also coincides with a new round of escalation between Iran and the US in the region that began in early July and entered its sixteenth day on Thursday, and saw Tehran threaten regional infrastructure and oil flows if Iranian facilities are targeted or if Iran is barred from exporting oil.
The escalatory rhetoric from Iranian officials followed vows by Trump to strike a bridge and power plant for every vessel the Iranian military attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, and threats to "absolutely attack" a new nuclear facility Iran is allegedly setting up in central Isfahan province.
The Iran-US escalation is ongoing despite the two sides agreeing to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding in mid-June, which established a ceasefire on all fronts and reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping.
Both sides also committed to holding talks toward a comprehensive settlement within 60 days, with room to extend by mutual consent. However, the ongoing escalation suggests that a near-term return to the negotiating table is unlikely.
For his part, the Iraqi premier stated ahead of boarding his plane to Tehran on Thursday that the visit aims to "consult on regional issues as well as efforts aimed at consolidating security and stability in the region."
In a statement posted on X, Zaidi underlined the need for "continued work in the spirit of dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect" in a way that "contributes to supporting security and stability at both the regional and international levels."
