ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – A high-level security delegation of Iraqi and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) officials, including National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji and KRG Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed, departed for Iran on Monday.

The delegation, headed by Araji, includes the chief of the Kurdistan Region's internal security forces (Asayish), Advisor for Strategic Affairs Saeed al-Jayashi, among other officials, and is visiting Tehran at the invitation of Ali Larijani, Iran's Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, an informed source told The New Region.

“The visit aims to discuss ways to enhance security and intelligence cooperation and combat terrorism,” the source added.

Larijani in August visited Iraq, where he signed a security agreement with Araji under the supervision of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani. After the signing of the agreement, the Iraqi premier said that Iraq seeks to strengthen its relations with Iran and build strong partnerships for the benefit of both peoples.

The visit comes after US President Donald Trump appointed a Special Envoy for Iraq on Sunday, amid rising tensions between Tehran and Washington, as well as Iraq's intricate position within their adversarial dynamics.

Iraq and Iran signed a security agreement in 2023 to address Tehran’s concerns over exiled Iranian-Kurdish armed groups that have sought refuge in Iraqi and Kurdistan Region territories for decades. In September 2023, Iraq announced it had completed the disarmament of the groups and moved their members away from the borders. 

Iran has repeatedly stated that there are still some elements of the agreement that need to be fulfilled but noted that both Baghdad and Erbil have been very cooperative in its implementation.