ISTANBUL / Laith al-Janidi / Anadolu

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran on Thursday.

The Iraqi Prime Minister's media office reported that al-Zaidi held a bilateral meeting with Pezeshkian, without providing details.

Earlier on Thursday, al-Zaidi arrived in Iran for a two-day visit at the head of a high-level ministerial delegation to discuss enhancing cooperation between the two neighboring countries, in addition to regional issues.

Al-Zaidi said on the American platform 'X' on Thursday that he would meet with senior Iranian officials during his visit.

He added that he would discuss with them 'issues of common interest, bilateral cooperation, consultations on regional matters, and efforts to establish security and stability in the region.'

He continued: 'Iraq and Iran are bound by historical and civilizational ties, geographical borders, and common interests, which necessitates continuing to work in a spirit of dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect.'

He added that such cooperation 'promotes sustainable development and prosperity for the peoples of both countries and contributes to supporting security and stability at regional and international levels.'

Al-Zaidi assumed the premiership last May, and on his first foreign trip, he visited Washington between July 13 and 18 of this month, where he met with US President Donald Trump, and a strategic partnership between the two countries was announced.

Washington says that Iraqi armed factions support Iran, while the Iraqi government seeks to monopolize weapons in the hands of the state and dismantle armed groups.

Al-Zaidi's visit to Iran comes amid a new military confrontation between Washington and Tehran, following a war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28 last.

For about two weeks, Washington has been launching daily attacks on Iran, and Tehran responds with attacks targeting 'American military installations and equipment in Arab countries,' especially Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.

Trump announced on July 8 of this month the end of the ceasefire stipulated in the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran on June 18 last.

Trump's announcement came after Iran targeted three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran insists on imposing a mechanism to regulate ship passage through the strategic energy and trade corridor, while Washington demands what it says is ensuring freedom of navigation and its security in the strait.

The escalation has disrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and threatened aviation and energy supplies, amid intermittent closures of airspace and warnings of targeting American installations and interests outside the Middle East.