Larijani Travels to Iraq and Lebanon

TEHRAN (Defapress) - Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, embarked on his first foreign trip since assuming this position, heading to Baghdad today to sign a bilateral Iran-Iraq security agreement. He will then travel to Beirut.

Before his departure to Iraq and Lebanon, he spoke about the objectives of his trip: "This trip has two parts. The first part is in Iraq. Iraq is a friendly and neighboring country, and we have high-level trade relations with it. As a result, the cooperation between the two nations is at a very good level, an example of which is Arbaeen. We thank the Iraqi government in advance for their excellent cooperation regarding the Arbaeen pilgrims."

Larijani continued: "We have prepared a security agreement with Iraq, which is a very important milestone. Iran’s approach and style in relations with its neighbors is such that the security of Iranians is a top priority, while also considering the security of neighboring countries. Unlike some countries that only care about their own security and crush other nations in the region, this is a different kind of behavior. Therefore, this agreement will be signed during this trip."

He added: "We will meet with various groups and figures in Iraq, listen to their views, and discuss matters related to bilateral cooperation."

The Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council described the second part of his trip to Lebanon, stating: "Lebanon is one of the most important and influential countries in the region and West Asia. We have long-standing ties with the Lebanese government and people. Many scholars who were active and influential in Iran came from Lebanon, so there is a shared civilizational bond between Iran and Lebanon. That is why our cooperation with the Lebanese government and people has a long and extensive history. We consult with each other on various regional issues, so under the current somewhat special circumstances, we will hold talks with officials and influential figures in this country."

When asked whether he was carrying any messages to Lebanon, he replied: "There are messages that we will convey. Our positions on Lebanon have always been clear. We believe that national unity in Lebanon is crucial and must be preserved. Lebanon’s independence has always been important to us, and we will support it. Enhancing trade relations between the two countries is also a key issue."

In response to a question about traveling to Lebanon amid the current wartime conditions, Larijani said: "Lebanon has a long history with such matters, and recently, like us, it has faced heavy clashes with the Zionist regime. Therefore, these discussions can always help stabilize the region."