Iran and Iraq have underlined further consolidation of relations within the framework of cooperation among the Islamic countries to stop Israel’s savagery in the besieged Gaza Strip.
President Ebrahim Raeisi and his Iraqi counterpart Abdul Latif Rashid had a phone conversation on Tuesday.
They exchanged felicitations on Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
Raeisi said the Tehran-Baghdad ties are based on vast cultural commonalities as well as deep historical roots.
The Iranian president expressed hope that the level of relations would be further improved in the current year “without the interference of ill-wishers.”
Rashid, for his part, described the relations between Iran and Iraq as “strong and deep and in line with securing the mutual interests.”
“The Iraqi government also believes the two countries should try to strengthen the friendly relations regardless of the conspiracy of ill-wishers,” he said.
Gaza ‘most important’ issue in Muslim world
Elsewhere in their phone conversation, Raeisi said the deep sorrow caused by the unprecedented crimes and atrocities of the Zionist regime against the Palestinians in Gaza is the most important common issue between Iran and Iraq as well as the Islamic world.
The Iranian president underscored the religious and human responsibility of all Muslims and free people of the world regarding an end to the crimes of Israel.
Referring to the fact that about six months have passed since the joint meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League about the developments in Gaza, Raeisi expressed disappointment with the effectiveness of all international assemblies and institutions, especially the United Nations and the Security Council.
The Iraqi president also expressed regret over the continuation of the crimes committed by the Zionist regime against the oppressed Palestinians of Gaza, as well as the ineffectiveness of measures to stop the occupying entity’s crimes through international organizations, including the United Nations Security Council.
“It is necessary for Islamic countries to look for an action plan to solve the Palestinian issue from the root and for this oppressed nation to achieve its rights.”
Israel launched its atrocious onslaught on the Gaza Strip, targeting hospitals, residences, and houses of worship, after Palestinian resistance movements launched Operation al-Aqsa Storm against the usurping regime on October 7. The regime has killed over 33,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, since.