BAGHDAD -- In a significant diplomatic mission, Iranian Parliament Speaker Muhammad Bagher Ghalibaf arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday at the head of a high-ranking parliamentary delegation for talks with senior Iraqi officials, as both nations seek to reshape regional order in the aftermath of the recent war with the United States.
The visit, which comes as Tehran and Baghdad have stepped up high-level contacts in recent weeks, is aimed at “strengthening the new order in the region and accelerating mutual cooperation among all the countries of the region, without the intervention of foreign powers,” Ghalibaf said upon arrival at the site where Iran’s legendary anti-terror commander General Qassem Soleimani was martyred in January 2020.
“The relationship between the peoples of Iran and Iraq is historic and unbreakable,” Ghalibaf wrote in an Arabic-language social media post ahead of his trip. 
“Our neighborhood is founded on brotherhood in the most difficult times, resistance to foreign interference, and a belief in the shared destiny of the two countries.”
In a meeting with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi, Ghalibaf delivered a sharp condemnation of the United States, saying Washington is the primary source of instability in the region.
“The culprit of all issues and crises in the region is the criminal America and its interventions,” Ghalibaf declared. He further described Israel as a “cancerous tumor” that was planted in the region by Britain, responsible for much of the devastation.
Ghalibaf asserted that the “imposed third war” on Iran which  began on February 28 and lasted for 40 days has proven America’s military limitations. 
“The Iranian nation, with resistance and loyalty, with military forces and the insight of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, broke America’s hegemony and made them regretful,” he said, adding that “today, America, which is in a state of desperation, faces disgrace whether it exits the war or continues.”
The Iranian Parliament speaker also emphasized that the United States has “approached the Persian Gulf countries and the region to plunder and loot their resources,” citing the recent war as proof that Americans “are not protectors and establishers of security but disruptors of stability.”
Halbousi, in turn, underscored the deep bonds between the two nations and made a significant announcement: the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq is imminent.
“U.S. forces will soon withdraw from Iraqi territory,” Halbousi stated, according to reports from the meeting. 
He also called on Iran to ease restrictions on the passage of Iraqi oil through the Strait of Hormuz, requesting “special characteristics” for Iraq in oil exports through the strategic waterway to safeguard its economic interests.
The Iraqi Parliament speaker praised Iran’s “historic and legendary resistance against the U.S. and the Israeli regime,” noting that the Iraqi people, government, and political figures are unanimously opposed to Israeli aggressions against Iran. 
“Israel is a cancerous tumor and must be eliminated,” he said.
Earlier, Ghalibaf met with Iraqi President Nizar al-Amidi, where he thanked Iraq for its massive participation in the funeral procession of martyred Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. 
He noted that “Iraq has come to understand that the biggest problem and main cause of all the region’s troubles is America,” and that “the Ramadan war proved to the countries of the region that the Americans are not protectors and establishers of their security, but disruptors of the countries’ peace.”
Al-Amidi, for his part, said the recent war “was inhumane and against international rules and its consequences for the region and Iraq were very great.” 
He stressed that “the unified security of the region will be achieved with the security of the region’s countries” and reaffirmed Iraq’s support for the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Iranian Parliament speaker also met with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, who appreciated Iran’s “firm support for the people and government of Iraq” and called for increased joint efforts to strengthen bilateral ties.
Ghalibaf’s visit is part of a broader shift in regional dynamics following the war. He declared that “the era of Western hegemony in West Asia is rapidly drawing to a close” and that “foreign powers’ interference in the equations between states is receding at an accelerating pace.”
“Resistance, is the only path to victory,” Ghalibaf declared in his meeting with Halbousi. “If we are not prepared for war, negotiation will bear no fruit.”
The visit also coincides with the Arbaeen period and the 40th day since the burial of Imam Khamenei, with Ghalibaf scheduled to attend a ceremony in Karbala on behalf of new Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei to convey his greetings and thanks to the Iraqi people.