Al-Soudani in Damascus: Al-Sharaa: We Are Building Relations Without Fear

Damascus – Agencies: Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi began yesterday his first official visit of its kind since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime to the Syrian capital, Damascus, leading a high-level ministerial delegation to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and regional developments with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Iraqi government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi announced that the visit aims to consolidate ties between Baghdad and Damascus in a manner that serves the interests of both peoples, noting that the talks will address the future of bilateral relations and the geopolitical challenges facing the region. He added that economic and commercial cooperation will take priority in the discussions, given both countries’ need to build partnerships that transform neighborly relations into mutual benefits and opportunities for development and investment. Al-Aboudi emphasized that the visit aligns with the Iraqi government’s approach of openness, balance, and dialogue, and the establishment of positive relations with Damascus based on mutual respect and shared understanding.

For his part, al-Sharaa affirmed that the Syrian-Iraqi border is completely secure. In an interview with Iraqi Dijlah TV on Tuesday evening, he pointed to joint coordination efforts. Al-Sharaa also confirmed that threats from “ISIS” have diminished, stating, “There is no organization posing a threat to either country.” He stressed that the governments of Iraq and Syria agree on the commonalities uniting the two nations. He welcomed Iraqi visits to Syria, affirming that “there is no objection to Iraqis visiting the Sayyida Zainab shrine.” He clarified that “Syria does not view Iraq through a sectarian lens,” adding, “We share many commonalities, and social relations between Iraq and Syria have remained healthy for years.” Al-Sharaa continued, “Since we came to power, Baghdad’s policies have been positive, despite attempts by certain parties to adopt contrary positions.” He also confirmed that he “did not intervene in sectarian conflicts in Iraq following the events of 2003,” noting that he “was released from prison in Iraq in 2011, then returned to Syria, and never harmed any Iraqi civilian.” He further stated that “Syria’s stability is in Iraq’s interest, and vice versa,” adding, “We must start from our commonalities and establish a suitable climate for relations free of fears… What unites us outweighs what divides us; we have had enough wars and debates.”

The Syrian president said, “We are in contact with global companies to connect the Baniyas pipeline to the refineries, and memoranda of understanding have been signed between Syria and Iraq regarding the Baniyas–Kirkuk pipeline.” He added, “Syria is Iraq’s maritime gateway and strategic route to the West, serving as Iraq’s Mediterranean face for oil exports.”

Underlying the visit, the security file emerges as one of the most prominent shared issues between Iraq and Syria, particularly concerning border control, counterterrorism, and preventing infiltration and smuggling. According to local news reports, Al-Zaidi and al-Sharaa’s discussions focus on enhancing security and intelligence coordination, confronting armed groups and cross-border smuggling networks, and developing trade flows through border crossings, facilitating the movement of goods and trucks, as well as exploring cooperation opportunities in the energy and investment sectors.