AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Iraqi President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid says his country is against the use of its territory as a "launch pad" for attacks against neighboring countries, including Iran.
He said Iraq also rejects any violation or aggression against its cities and villages.
Rashid made the remarks in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Baghdad on Sunday in reaction to Israel's rhetoric about a possible response to the Islamic republic's recent missile attack against the regime.
On October 1, Iran launched hundreds of missiles towards the Israeli entity’s military, and espionage and intelligence bases all over the occupied territories as part of Operation True Promise II.
The operation came in response to Israel’s assassinations of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, Secretary General of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and Brigadier General Abbas Nilforushan, the Deputy Commander for Operations of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC).
The Iraqi president stressed the need to take an immediate action to end the Israeli regime’s attacks on Lebanon and to work to end the war against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
He warned against the potential expansion of war in the region and called for attempts to prevent the spread of conflict across the region.
Rashid said the continuation of the war in Gaza and Lebanon poses a threat to regional and global security, stability and peace, stressing the need to solve crises in the region through diplomatic means.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the president said relations between Tehran and Baghdad will play an important role in bringing the two neighboring countries together.
He urged both sides to work to strengthen ties in various fields based on the historical, social and religious commonalities in a way to serve the common interests of the two friendly peoples and promote regional security and stability.
In turn, the Iranian foreign minister outlined his country’s stance on the escalation of regional tensions.
Araghchi reiterated Iran’s resolve to maintain international peace and security, saying Israel’s aggression against Lebanon and Gaza is a violation of international law and norms.
Araghchi arrived in the Iraqi capital Baghdad earlier on Sunday as part of a regional tour that has also taken him to Lebanon, Syria and Saudi Arabia so far. At the end of his talks, the Iranian foreign minister left Baghdad for the Omani capital Muscat.
In a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia'a al-Sudani in Baghdad on Sunday, the Iranian foreign minister said the region is in a dangerous situation and all the regional countries must make more efforts to end Israel’s crimes in Gaza and the continuation of its military aggression against Lebanon.
Araghchi added that Iran feels a responsibility to regional security and stability and emphasized that prevention of an escalation of the security situation in West Asia requires an immediate cessation of Israel’s criminal acts in Gaza and Lebanon.
He emphasized that the United States and other countries, which are exporting lethal weapons to Israel, are responsible for putting an end to Israel’s acts of aggression.
The Iraqi prime minister, for his part, highlighted the significance of holding constant consultations among the regional countries in order to prevent a full-scale war in the region.
Sudani said the Iraqi government and nation are resolute on supporting the Palestinian and Lebanese people in the face of Israel’s genocidal war and aggression.
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