As the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced a permanent trade embargo against Iran following the launch of two ballistic missiles aimed at its territory, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf visited Baghdad, Iraq. Analysts interpreted Ghalibaf's visit as a gesture to consolidate power, noting that he visited the site where Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was killed by a U.S. strike six years ago. Ghalibaf also leads Iran's delegation in negotiations with the U.S. regarding peace talks.
According to AFP, Ghalibaf arrived in Iraq for a three-day visit on August 19. At the site near Baghdad International Airport where Soleimani was killed, Ghalibaf stated, "Our visit today aims to strengthen a new order in the region and to enhance cooperation among all countries without foreign intervention." He added, "Today, resistance has become a global phenomenon that transcends the borders of Iran and Iraq." During his visit, Ghalibaf is expected to meet with Prime Minister Ali Al-Sudani and leaders of the largest Shiite political bloc in the Iraqi parliament.
The report noted that Iraq is increasingly struggling to maintain a balance between Iran and the U.S., highlighting the competition between the two countries that has unfolded since 2003. Iran-backed militias are active in Iraq, and Prime Minister Al-Sudani, who came to power with U.S. support three months ago, has demanded these armed groups return their weapons by the end of September. However, pro-Iran militias have refused to comply. Arab Weekly reported that Iran has long viewed these militias as a pillar of regional security.
On August 20, Ghalibaf is set to travel to Karbala, a Shiite holy site in Iraq, to participate in a memorial event for former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who died following a U.S. airstrike on February 28.
Meanwhile, Iran's trade with the UAE, a key trading partner, has been indefinitely halted. The UAE government announced a comprehensive trade embargo against Iran on August 19. According to The Hill, the UAE reported that two ballistic missiles fell into its territorial waters, one inside and one outside its maritime boundaries. The Jerusalem Post reported that both missiles were reportedly aimed at nearby maritime traffic.
While there were no casualties from the missile attacks, the UAE Ministry of Defense stated it would respond firmly to any attempts that threaten its security. Following the missile incident, the UAE government decided to suspend trade with Iran indefinitely, as reported by CNBC. In response to the UAE's missile claims, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei dismissed the allegations as "baseless speculation," denying that Iran had fired missiles at the UAE.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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