Iran parliament speaker to visit Iraq Wednesday for talks

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf will begin a two-day visit to Iraq on Wednesday for discussions with senior officials on bilateral ties and regional security challenges, according to Iranian state media reports on Tuesday. State broadcaster IRIB said the talks will focus on strengthening strategic cooperation between Tehran and Baghdad, with particular emphasis on border security, counterterrorism efforts, and expanding economic collaboration.

The visit comes as Qalibaf serves as Iran's top negotiator in ongoing talks with the United States, adding diplomatic weight to the Baghdad consultations. Qalibaf is expected to hold meetings with Iraq's parliament speaker, prime minister, president, head of the Supreme Judicial Council, and national security adviser during the two-day itinerary, Iran's ambassador to Baghdad Mohammad Kazem Al-e Sadeq told the ISNA news agency.

Karbala commemoration

Beyond official talks in Baghdad, Qalibaf will travel to the holy city of Karbala on Thursday to attend a ceremony marking the 40th day since the death of Iran's former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to Al-e Sadeq. The diplomat emphasized that the visit had been planned following an official invitation from the Iraqi parliament speaker and was not arranged in response to recent events.

Regional context

The trip follows days after a drone attack targeted the residence of Masrour Barzani, head of the Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq — an incident that prompted Baghdad to seek clarification from Tehran, which denied involvement. Asked whether the visit was connected to the KRG attack, Al-e Sadeq stated it had "no connection," reiterating that the itinerary had been previously arranged despite its particular importance given current regional developments.