Iranian President expresses gratitude to Iraqi people, says ‘Your support is helpful in the common fight’

Tehran, March 31 Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has thanked the Iraqi people for their support during the war. He said the Iraqi people stood firmly with Iran in this struggle.

In a statement issued on Christmas Day, he said Iraq courageously stood shoulder to shoulder with Iran in this unjust conflict. This support is not only due to geographical reasons, but also due to shared history, identity, and religious values.

In footage shared online by Iranian and Iraqi media outlets on Saturday and Sunday, a convoy of Hashd al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an Iranian-backed militia, was seen entering Iran.

Iranian media described it as the “first convoy of humanitarian aid from the Iraqi people.”

Iraq recently joined the conflict. Since the US and Israeli attacks against Iran began, violence in the country has claimed the lives of 10-12 people.

Pro-Iranian groups affiliated with the PMF—which operate both inside and outside the government—have carried out drone and rocket attacks on the US embassy in Baghdad, US military bases in Iraq, and US-related sites (such as hotels) in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Last week, the PMF claimed Washington was responsible for attacks on an Iraqi military base and PMF headquarters, killing Iraqi security officers. Such attacks—even if they targeted pro-Iranian PMF factions—are likely to result in the deaths of Iraqi soldiers, given the close coordination and cooperation between the Iraqi army and the PMF.

Although Washington did not claim responsibility for the attacks, the Iraqi Prime Minister directed the Foreign Ministry to summon the Charge d’Affaires (acting ambassador) of the US Embassy.

/