Iranian Speaker Ghalibaf Urges Regional Order Without Foreign Interference

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf led a high-ranking parliamentary delegation to Baghdad on August 19, 2026, to strengthen bilateral ties and advocate for a new regional order. During a visit to the memorial site of General Qassem Soleimani and commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Ghalibaf asserted that the influence of foreign powers is rapidly declining and claimed the United States is seeking an honorable exit from the region.

Ghalibaf met with Iraqi officials, including First Deputy Speaker Adnan Fayhan, to discuss counterterrorism, border security, and economic cooperation. He described the relationship between Iran and Iraq as historic, deep-rooted, and unbreakable, urging Islamic countries to increase cooperation without external interference. He further characterized the resistance as a global element of power.

The visit occurs amid domestic tension in Iraq, where Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has ordered pro-Iran resistance factions to surrender their weapons to the state by September 30. While Ghalibaf praised the resistance, several powerful factions in Iraq continue to refuse the government's disarmament mandate. Ghalibaf also planned to travel to Karbala to attend ceremonies marking 40 days since the funeral of Ali Khamenei.