Middle East
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (right) and his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein attend a joint press conference in Tehran on January 18, 2026. Photo: AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said Sunday that Iran’s security is tied to the stability of Iraq and the wider region, rejecting what he described as any foreign “intervention” in the internal affairs of other countries.
“We decry [foreign] intervention in the internal affairs of our countries,” Hussein said during a joint press conference in Tehran with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at the end of a two-day visit that included meetings with senior Iranian officials.
The visit came weeks after protests swept Iran over the country’s struggling economy.
“I have been informed of the situation in Iran, and I thank the Iranian foreign minister for the detailed explanation he provided on the latest developments,” Hussein said.
He added that Iraq believes Iran’s security is inseparable from that of Iraq and the region, saying it was important for Iranians to “enjoy security in their country.”
Hussein reiterated Baghdad’s support for Tehran, describing relations between the two countries as extending beyond government ties to include geography, history, society, culture, and economic cooperation across multiple fields.
During the presser, Araghchi thanked Iraq for what he described as its supportive stance and solidarity with the Iranian people.
“Today, we discussed political and diplomatic proposals that can be formulated between Iran and Iraq to advance peace and stability in the region, and we agreed to continue on this path,” Araghchi said.
Iran has seen widespread nationwide demonstrations since late December. Thousands of protesters and security personnel are believed to have been killed. An internet blackout and cut telephone lines have also made it extremely difficult for media and monitoring groups to determine the exact death toll.
At least 3,308 people were killed during three weeks of protests, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), which relies on a network of activists inside Iran to verify reported fatalities.
Separately, the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) organization reported on Wednesday that at least 3,428 protesters have been killed, and thousands have been injured.
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