Peregraf
Iraq has clarified to the United States the nature of its recently signed security memorandum with Iran, stressing that the accord is a continuation of an earlier agreement aimed at controlling borders and addressing armed groups operating in the Kurdistan Region.
National Security Adviser Qassim al-Araji met on Saturday with U.S. Chargé d'Affaires in Baghdad, Ambassador Stephen Fagin, to discuss bilateral ties, counterterrorism cooperation, and the regional implications of Iraq’s security policies.
Al-Araji briefed the American envoy on the memorandum of understanding signed this week between Iraq and Iran during the visit of Ali Larijani, the newly appointed secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. He explained that the document builds upon the Joint Security Agreement on Border Security signed on March 19, 2023, under which Baghdad committed to disarming and relocating Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in northern Iraq.
"The memorandum contributes to supporting security and stability in the region and preventing smuggling and infiltration," al-Araji said, adding that Iraq’s approach is guided by its "supreme national interests" and pursuit of "balanced relations" with both regional and international partners.
The original 2023 accord was implemented with the cooperation of the Kurdistan Regional Government and required the relocation of groups such as the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI), Komala, PJAK, and the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) from border areas into designated camps. Iraqi officials say much of the agreement has already been enforced, though Tehran continues to press Baghdad to ensure full compliance.
Ambassador Fagin welcomed Iraq’s explanation and reaffirmed U.S. support for the government’s balanced foreign policy. He also praised Baghdad’s progress on the return and rehabilitation of displaced persons, while noting that an international conference will soon be convened in New York to encourage countries to repatriate their nationals from Syria’s al-Hol camp and close the file entirely.
The signing of the updated memorandum was overseen by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who reiterated Iraq’s commitment to closer relations with Iran while also urging dialogue between Tehran and Washington to prevent further regional escalation.
The 1,400-kilometer Iraq-Iran border has long been a flashpoint, with Tehran accusing Kurdish opposition groups based in the Kurdistan Region of staging cross-border attacks and playing a role in the unrest that swept Iran during the 2022 protests. Iranian officials have repeatedly threatened unilateral military action if Iraq fails to contain these groups.
Larijani, carrying greetings from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, also raised prospects for greater cooperation in trade and transport, including a proposed passenger railway project linking the two countries. His visit to Baghdad is part of a wider regional tour amid mounting tensions across the Middle East.
The Iraqi National Security Advisory emphasized the importance of relying on official statements when reporting on such agreements, underscoring the sensitivity of security issues at the regional level.