Speaking at a ceremony in Karbala marking the 40th day since the burial of the late Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Ghalibaf conveyed warm greetings from the Iranian leadership and nation to the Iraqi people on Thursday.
He praised the Iraqi nation for its historic funeral procession for the late leader, saying the Iraqi people had fully upheld the bonds of brotherhood and left the world astonished.
The Parliament speaker emphasized that every step taken by enemies to drive the two nations apart had only brought them closer together.
He cited the deep roots of the Iran-Iraq relationship in history, geography, and shared religious beliefs, but stressed that what has brought Tehran and Baghdad even nearer is their joint refusal to allow foreign capitals to shape their peoples’ futures.
“History will record that we were two nations who did not accept being a footnote to others’ narratives and did not allow our destiny to be written in the capitals of Western governments,” Ghalibaf said.
Iran’s top negotiator stressed that his visit to Iraq was not about repeating words without substance, adding that there was a clear agenda to enhance security and stability, limit foreign interference, and define projects that improve the lives of both nations.
“We have been friends and brothers in the toughest days,” he said. “We stood together in hardship and will stand together in success. In a word, our strength lies in our brotherhood.”
Ghalibaf arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday at the head of a high-level parliamentary delegation for talks with Iraqi officials on bilateral relations, border security, counterterrorism, economic cooperation, and regional developments.
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