Qalibaf hails unbreakable IranIraq alliance
Qalibaf hails ‘unbreakable’ Iran-Iraq alliance
TEHRAN — Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has hailed the “unbreakable” unity between Iran and Iraq, stating that the two neighboring nations will continue to stand firm together against the United States.
Qalibaf made the remarks on Friday after paying tribute to martyr Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at the Wadi al-Salam Cemetery in Najaf. He emphasized that the bond between the two nations is deeply cemented by shared religious and cultural foundations.
Recalling the joint struggle against the ISIL terrorist group, Qalibaf stressed that Iranian and Iraqi forces stood shoulder-to-shoulder in times of critical need. Pointing to recent US and Israeli aggression against Iran, he noted that the Iraqi people rose up in solidarity during the conflict.
He highlighted the January 2020 US assassination of anti-terror commanders Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis as an enduring symbol of the sacred bond between the two nations.
“The ultimate symbol of this struggle is the blood of martyr Abu Mahdi and our dear martyr Haj Qassem, which mixed on this soil,” Qalibaf said. “Iraq and Iran will stand together against global arrogance. Just as they brought America to its knees in the Ramadan War and made it taste the bitter flavor of defeat, this path of resistance will continue.”
Speaking on Thursday to a gathering of Iranian and Iraqi business leaders in Baghdad, Qalibaf asserted that while Tehran does not seek war, diplomacy is only effective when backed by strong defense readiness—especially as Washington resorts to economic threats following its military setbacks.
“We are neither warmongers nor do we seek war,” he affirmed. “However, as Muslims, we uphold a fundamental principle of the Islamic Ummah: we will never allow anyone to trample upon our dignity and honor. On this path, we stand firm and will defend our honor with our lives and resources.”
“As someone who has served on the battlefield, I understand the value of peace far better than those who merely preach it,” Qalibaf added, emphasizing that diplomatic strength relies on defense capabilities. “Diplomacy holds weight only when a nation is prepared to defend itself. If we are not prepared for war, no adversary will take our diplomatic efforts seriously.”
His comments follow the expiration of the Pakistan-mediated Islamabad memorandum of understanding, signed on June 17, which temporarily halted 39 days of US-Israeli aggression against Iran. Shortly after the signing, Washington repeatedly violated the agreement, triggering a renewed two-week conflict. Iran responded to US and Israeli strikes on its civilian infrastructure by delivering precision counter-strikes against enemy military assets across the region.
Addressing economic cooperation, Qalibaf urged both nations to conduct bilateral trade in their national currencies to dismantle the hegemony of the US dollar.
“We can execute trade using our national currencies and strike a decisive blow against the dominance of the US dollar,” Qalibaf stated. “The era of American global domination has passed, but we must stay vigilant and seize the strategic opportunities that have emerged.”
Qalibaf argued that having failed to achieve their objectives through conventional military warfare, Washington and Tel Aviv have resorted to economic pressure.
His remarks follow President Donald Trump’s announcement of a renewed economic campaign against Tehran, threatening severe sanctions against countries conducting business with Iran.
source: tehrantimes.com