Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian embarked on his first foreign trip as president, aiming to strengthen ties with Baghdad amidst escalating regional tensions. The relationship between Iran and Iraq holds significant importance for both countries, especially following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein, who waged a brutal war against Iran in the 1980s.
Baghdad faces the challenge of balancing its relations with Tehran, which supports influential Shiite militias in Iraq, and the United States, which maintains a troop presence in Iraq to combat remnants of the Islamic State group. The U.S. troops have been a target for Iran, particularly amid Israel's ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
