Shafaq News-Baghdad
IranianForeign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the primary purpose of his visit toBaghdad was to thank the Iraqi government and people for their support duringthe recent war with the United States and Israel.
In a jointnews conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, Araghchi said Iran'snegotiations with Washington and the status of the Strait of Hormuz, thestrategic waterway at the mouth of the Gulf through which much of the world'sseaborne oil passes, were also on the agenda, pointing out that he had briefedHussein on both and described the strait as being "under Iran'smanagement," and no other party holds authority over its operation, andthat any claim to the contrary would breach the memorandum with Washington.
Tehran andBaghdad are also coordinating a funeral procession for Iran's late supremeleader, Ali Khamenei, at holy shrines in Iraq.
The foreign minister stressed that thememorandum of understanding with Washington included a halt to fighting on allfronts, including Lebanon. “Israel must withdraw from the areas it occupies inLebanon; this is the responsibility of the US government.”