On Tuesday, the Commander of the Iranian Border Guard, Brigadier General Ahmad Ali Goudarzi announced a groundbreaking agreement with his Iraqi counterpart, Mohamed Abdel Wahab Sukkar Al Saeedi.
This agreement will establish joint patrols along their shared border, especially during the religious fervor of the Arba’een Pilgrimage, the world’s largest annual public gathering. It is held in Karbala, Iraq.
During the talks, Brigadier Goudarzi shed light on the finer details of this collaboration. One primary emphasis is the increased oversight during the significant Arbaeen Husseinian pilgrimage. Additionally, an intensified focus will be maintained on the Iraq-Kurdistan region.
The senior military officials discussed securing bilateral border points. Their objective is to offer enhanced services to the many pilgrims during the Arba’een Pilgrimage.
Speaking to the media, Goudarzi acknowledged the strengthened ties between the Iranian and Iraqi border forces over the preceding two years. He further highlighted the mutual challenges the two countries face. “Efforts to counteract the smuggling of weapons and ammunition into Iran took center stage,” said Koudarzi. Both nations will now share intelligence and have agreed to joint exercises to apprehend criminals involved in such activities.
Moreover, both nations consented to the creation of joint operational centers. These centers, equipped with advanced protocols, will deploy representatives around the clock on the Iran-Iraq border, guaranteeing safety and facilitating pilgrim movement.
He further elaborated on the specific measures for the Kurdistan region. Both sides have committed to an increased presence and use of cutting-edge electronic equipment for surveillance. These resolutions signify the beginning of many such border collaborations in the coming year.
