Iranian Foreign Ministry: PUK President's Visit Unrelated to Baghdad-Tehran Security Deal

President Bafel's Media Office

President Bafel and Iranian Foreign Minister.

The visit of the President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) to Tehran, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, is a result of bilateral discussions between Iran and the Kurdistan Region and has nothing to do with the security agreement between Baghdad and Tehran.

On Monday, September 11, 2023, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani discussed the senior PUK delegation's visit to Tehran, which has been going on for a few days. The mission is headed by PUK President Bafel Talabani.
 
"The visit of PUK President Bafel to Tehran is part of the bilateral dialogue and cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Iraqi Kurdistan Region," stated the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

"The visit has absolutely nothing to do with the security agreement between Baghdad and Tehran," he continued.

The Iraqi government and Iran inked a security pact in Baghdad on March 19, 2023, under the supervision of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani. National Security Advisor Qassem Al-Araji signed for Iraq, and Secretary of the National Security Council Ali Shamkhani signed for Iran. The pact, which is set to take effect on September 19, 2023, covers safeguarding both sides' borders and avoiding attacks on Iran from Iraqi territory.
 
"The visit of the PUK President is unrelated to the extension of the deadline for the implementation of the Baghdad-Tehran security agreement, which is September 19, 2023," he said.
 
"The Iraqi government has taken positive steps in this regard and has reaffirmed its commitment to the agreement, as has Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani," Kanaani said.

According to a statement released by the PUK President's press office, the senior PUK delegation led by PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani met with the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament and Foreign Minister in Tehran.
 
Sources: Iranian Foreign Ministry, IRNA News Agency, Press Office of President Bafel Jalal Talabani



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