ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid met with his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday, discussing regional stability and the “intertwined” security of the two countries.

The leaders met on the sidelines of the International Forum for Peace and Trust that started on Friday in Turkmenistan’s capital Ashgabat, attended by key regional leaders, during which Rashid delivered Iraq’s remarks.

During the meeting, Rashid stressed the importance of “continuous coordination” between the two states “in confronting regional challenges,” according to a statement from the Iraqi Presidency.

The Iraqi leader affirmed Baghdad’s “categorical rejection of any form of aggression or violation of the national sovereignty of states,” and urged for dialogue as “the optimal choice” for addressing existing issues.

“Iran is the most important neighbor and our security is intertwined. We consider any obstruction against Iran as hostility toward ourselves,” Iranian state media quoted Rashid as saying.

In August, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani oversaw the signing of a joint security memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Iraqi National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji and Iranian Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani, “concerning security coordination along the shared borders between the two countries.”

Washington has repeatedly voiced concern over Iran’s influence on Iraq and the expanding power of Iran-backed Shiite armed groups in Iraq, who enjoy a similar level of governance and authority as the state forces.

Washington’s concerns, however, are often dismissed by Iraqi authorities who claim that Baghdad’s cooperation with Tehran is based on the country’s national interests and is an extension of the country making decisions as an independent sovereign state.

The Iraqi president also met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, discussing regional and international developments, as well as Moscow-Baghdad bilateral ties.

Additionally, Rashid attended a meeting with his Russian, Turkish, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Uzbek counterparts on the sidelines of the forum, discussing “a range of international and regional issues,” according to the Iraqi presidency.