Araghchi’s Reaction to the US Withdrawal from Ain al-Asad Base

TEHRAN (Defapress) - Today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Fuad Hussein, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq, respectively, met in Tehran to discuss bilateral relations, regional developments, and international affairs.

Following the meeting, the foreign ministers of Iran and Iraq held a joint press conference where they addressed the key topics of their discussions.

Araghchi began the press conference by stating: “We had a detailed round of negotiations, including private discussions. I thank him for his visit.”

The Iranian Foreign Minister continued, “This meeting takes place after the elections in Iraq and marks a new step towards planning the development of relations between our two countries. Our borders have today transformed into borders of friendship and cooperation, and we believe the scope of economic, political, and cultural cooperation is very diverse.”

He added: “Iraq’s regional role is steadily increasing, and our Iraqi friends have demonstrated their ability to play a positive role in dialogue and resolving problems. We are ready to cooperate. Today, we discussed proposals that could be designed between Iran and Iraq to promote peace in the region.”

Araghchi stated: “Today, there is a different share of cooperation and challenges, and we are seeking to reach a strategic cooperation agreement between the two countries. Iran seeks a stable and politically independent Iraq. People-to-people relations are constantly increasing, and there is a high level of exchange between our citizens. We thank Iraq for hosting Iranian pilgrims.”

The Iranian Foreign Minister added: “We are ready to increase travel and communication between our two nations. Today, we also addressed economic cooperation; the trade level is good and has significant potential for growth.”

He said: “We also spoke about the region today. We appreciate Iraq’s stance in supporting the people of Iran; the relations between our two countries are continuing on a good path.”

Araghchi also stated: “The withdrawal of US military forces from Ain al-Asad base and the end of UNAMI mission are clear signs of strengthening independence, stability, and national sovereignty in Iraq. The Islamic Republic of Iran has always sought a powerful and independent Iraq and believes that this country possesses the necessary capacities to play a key role in regional peace and stability.”

He added: “At the social level, the bond between our two nations has reached its peak, with tens of thousands of Iraqi students studying in Iran and an annual flow of 7 million pilgrims and tourists.”

Fuad Hussein: “The security of Iraq and Iran is part of the security of the region.”

Fuad Hussein, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, also stated at the press conference: “My current visit to Iran is aimed at addressing issues between our two countries. These relations are not only within the framework of official channels but also include cultural and human relations. In this visit, we first focused on how to develop these relations.”

He continued: “I am very pleased to be in Tehran and have learned about the situation inside Iran; the Minister explained the recent conditions. We believe the security of Iraq and Iran is part of the security of the region. The security of the Iranian people is important to us, as is the security of the region.”

The Iraqi Foreign Minister also said: “Before my visit to Iran, I spoke with officials from countries in the region. They emphasized that the security of the entire region is interconnected. We emphasized a series of principles, namely that security is shared. Within this framework, we stressed the continuation of consultations and reviewed perspectives on how to deal with regional developments.”

He added: “The exchange of views between Iran and Iraq is important in the current situation, as we emphasize the principle of ‘indivisibility of regional security’ and believe that the stability of each country is a guarantor of the security of its neighbors. Within this framework, while emphasizing the necessity of non-interference in the internal affairs of countries, we agreed to continue consultations to address regional challenges.”

Fuad Hussein concluded: “We are seeking to form the Iraqi government and must form the cabinet quickly to confront regional and domestic challenges. I am scheduled to have various meetings with Iranian officials today and tomorrow.