BAGHDAD -- Iranian Parliament Speaker Muhammad Bagher Ghalibaf has described the unity between Iran and Iraq as “unbreakable,” saying the two countries will continue to stand against the United States and the Israeli regime. 
Speaking after paying tribute to Martyr Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at the Wadi Al-Salam Cemetery in Najaf, Ghalibaf said the United States and Israel should understand that unity within the Muslim world, particularly between Iran and Iraq, is “unbreakable.”
This relationship, he added, is cemented by shared religious and cultural foundations. Ghalibaf recalled the fight against the Daesh terrorist group, saying Iranian and Iraqi forces stood alongside one another when they needed each other most. 
He also pointed to the recent aggression against Iran, saying the Iraqi people rose up during the “Ramadan War,” referring to the war launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran in late February. 
Furthermore, he cited the U.S. assassination of anti-terror commanders Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in January 2020 as a symbol of the close ties between the two nations. 
“The symbol of this struggle is the blood of the martyr Abu Mahdi and the dear martyr Haj Qassem, which was mixed in this land,” he said.
Ghalibaf said the cooperation between the two countries will continue. “Iraq and Iran will stand against the arrogance,” he said. “Just as they brought America to its knees in the Ramadan War and made it taste the bitter flavor of defeat, this path will continue.”
Speaking Thursday evening at a ceremony in Karbala marking the 40th day following the funeral ceremonies for Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Ghalibaf conveyed the greetings of the Iranian people to Iraq and praised Iraqis for their participation. 
He said the large turnout reflected the depth of the brotherly ties between the two peoples, describing Iran-Iraq relations as rooted in geography, history and shared religious beliefs.
“We will be remembered in history as two nations that refused to become footnotes in the narratives of others, and whose fate was not written in the capitals of Western governments,” he said. 
Ghalibaf urged the two countries to move beyond political statements and pursue concrete joint projects to strengthen security, stability and economic welfare. 
“We have been friends and brothers in the most difficult days,” he said, recalling how the two countries had stood together through periods of crisis.
Ghalibaf said bilateral trade could be conducted using national currencies rather than relying on the U.S. dollar. 
“We can conduct trade using national currencies and strike at the dominance of the US currency,” he said. 
“The era of America’s domination of the world has passed, but we do not pay attention to this and do not focus on the opportunities that have emerged. This is our problem.”
On Thursday, speaking with Iranian and Iraqi businesspeople in Baghdad, Ghalibaf said Iran does not seek war, but diplomacy can only be effective when backed by readiness for war. 
“We are neither warmongers nor seeking war,” he said. “But as Muslims, we believe in a principle: We will not allow people to trample on our dignity and honor. On this path, we will sacrifice our wealth and lives, stand firm, and defend our dignity and honor.” 
He said that diplomacy carries weight only when a country is prepared to defend itself. “We believe diplomacy is valuable and moves forward when we are prepared for war. If we are not prepared for war, no one will respond to us when we use diplomacy.”
Separately, Iraqi National Security Adviser Qasim al-Aboudi reaffirmed Baghdad’s commitment to its security agreement with Tehran, saying Iraq’s policy is focused on strengthening relations with neighboring countries. 
Al-Aboudi described Iran-Iraq relations as historic and close, saying Iraq’s stability is directly linked to the stability of the wider region. “Iraq adheres to the joint security agreement between Baghdad and Tehran,” he said.
Ghalibaf’s visit to Iraq included meetings with senior Iraqi officials, including the parliament speaker, prime minister, president and chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council. 
During his meeting with Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, Ghalibaf highlighted the deep geographical and historical ties between the two countries. 
In a separate meeting with President Nizar Amidi, Ghalibaf discussed the latest regional conflicts, attributing much of the region’s insecurity to U.S. policies and Israeli actions.