TEHRAN: During the new Iraqi prime minister's first official visit to Iran, Tehran and Baghdad agreed that fighting "terrorism", maintaining shared security and expanding economic cooperation were top priorities. 

President Ibrahim Raisi welcomed Mohammad Shia al-Sudani and expressed his desire to improve ties that had recently been strained by concerns of Iran carrying out cross-border attacks against exiled opposition groups.

Al-Sudani took office last month after a year-long struggle between political factions to form a government, following general elections in October 2021.

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At a joint press conference, Raisi said, "From our point of view and that of the Iraqi government, security, peace, cooperation and regional stability are very important.

Therefore, he said, "the fight against terrorist organizations, organized crime, drugs and other forms of insecurity that threaten the region rests on the shared will of our two countries."

According to al-Sudani, "no group or party will be allowed to use Iraqi territory to undermine and disrupt Iran's security."

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Iranian officials have accused Kurdish opposition groups in exile in northern Iraq of fomenting unrest since widespread protests broke out in the country more than two months ago, and the Islamic republic has often carried out deadly cross-border attacks.

Iran's ambassador was also summoned in late September by the Iraqi government after it expressed its displeasure over cross-border missile and drone attacks that killed at least seven people, attacks that have hit Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region. Targeted Iranian-Kurdish groups in the U.S. — continuing this month.

Tehran has welcomed Iraq's announcement last week that it would redeploy federal guards to the border between Iraqi Kurdistan and Iran, taking the work off the shoulders of the Kurdish Peshmerga.

Al-Sudani further said that there would be talks between the national security advisors of the two countries to "establish a working mechanism for on-the-ground coordination to avoid any escalation".

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Al-Sudani thanked Iran for continuing to provide Iraq with gas and electricity, which have recently been in short supply. He also mentioned that plans were being made for a "mechanism" that would allow Iraq to reimburse Iran for these services.