Iranian Foreign Ministry Hopes US Withdrawal Enhances Partnership With Baghdad

The Iranian Foreign Ministry expressed hope on Sunday that the termination of the US military presence in Iraqi territory would serve as a major milestone to support joint cooperation and strengthen bilateral ties between Tehran and Baghdad. In a related context, ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei affirmed that securing navigation and opening the Strait of Hormuz are closely linked to Washington taking practical steps, including stopping the disruption of Iranian maritime activities. Baghaei stressed that recent discussions did not touch upon the nuclear program at all, denying the accuracy of reports regarding Tehran's acceptance of inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency and describing them as baseless. He pointed out that his country has consistently remained committed to fulfilling its legal obligations as a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The spokesman explained that the latest US proposal does not differ fundamentally from previous initiatives and focuses on the nuclear file, noting that Tehran has never evaded the diplomatic path and that its primary goal has been to utilize all available opportunities to reach a fair, peaceful settlement.