Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi praised the outcome of his Washington visit amid broad public support but political divisions at home. Iran, meanwhile, officially distanced itself from critical remarks of the visit made by Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to its supreme leader.
Velayati had described al-Zaidi as “inexperienced” and also slammed the timing of the visit as it took place shortly after the days-long funeral of slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the beginning of the US-Israel war on Iran.
Tehran sought to distance itself from his comments with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi informing his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein on Sunday that bilateral ties should not be affected by “personal and unofficial” remarks.
He described Iranian-Iraqi ties as deep-rooted and strategic, underpinned by historical, cultural and religious ties and shared interests.
Concluding his five-day US trip, al-Zaidi thanked President Donald Trump’s administration and the American people for their warm reception.
