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From Amwaj Media. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

New Iranian ambassador signals 'changed approach to Iraq'

Iran has appointed Mohammad Kazem Aal-e Sadeq as its new ambassador to Baghdad, ending the 5-year tenure of Iraj Masjedi.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior Iranian source has told Amwaj.media that the change is not only routine but bureaucratically overdue, revealing that Masjedi's tenure was meant to finish last year.

He added that Tehran had firmly stood behind Masjedi amid pressure for a shift following a series of controversies involving the envoy.

However, informed sources in Baghdad have contested this narrative of events, indicating to Amwaj.media that the change is meant to signal "a changed approach to Iraq."

The full report can be viewed here (registration required).

By John Lee.

Iran has reportedly named its new Ambassador to Iraq.

According to both Tehran Times and Mehr News, Mohammad Kazem Al Sadeq will soon replace Iraj Masjedi as Iran's top diplomat in Baghdad.

On Twitter, Fereshteh Sadeghi (@fresh_sadegh), says that Al Sadeq is from a family of clerics, is fluent in Arabic, and has previously served as Deputy Ambassador in Baghdad.

Al Sadeq takes over from Iraj Masjedi, who was sanctioned by the United States for acting on behalf of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF).

(Sources: Tehran Times, Mehr News, Fereshteh Sadeghi)

By John Lee.

Visa requirements have reportedly been eased between Iraq and Iran.

Iran's Ambassador to Baghdad, Iraj Masjedi, is quoted as saying that visas are now not required by Iranians arriving in Iraq through Baghdad and Najaf airports, or by Iraqis travelling to Iran.

Iranians can stay in Iraq for up to one month, which the possibility of an extension.

(Sources: IFP, Shafaq)

From US Dept of the Treasury:

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is designating Iraj Masjedi (pictured), a general in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and Iran's Ambassador to Iraq, for acting for or on behalf of the IRGC-QF.

A close adviser to former IRGC-QF Commander Qassem Soleimani, Masjedi played a formative role in the IRGC-QF's Iraq policy. In his decades of service with the group, Masjedi has overseen a program of training and support to Iraqi militia groups, and he has directed or supported groups that are responsible for attacks that have killed and wounded U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq. In his current capacity, Masjedi has exploited his position as the Iranian regime's ambassador in Iraq to obfuscate financial transfers conducted for the benefit of the IRGC-QF.

"The Iranian regime threatens Iraq's security and sovereignty by appointing IRGC-QF officials as ambassadors in the region to carry out their destabilizing foreign agenda," said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. "The United States will continue to employ the tools and authorities at its disposal to target the Iranian regime and IRGC-QF officials that attempt to meddle in the affairs of sovereign nations, including any attempts to influence U.S. elections."

Masjedi is being designated pursuant to the counterterrorism authority Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended, for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the IRGC-QF. The IRGC-QF was designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 in 2007 for support to numerous terrorist groups. The IRGC, including its external arm, the IRGC-QF, was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on April 8, 2019.

A Long-Running Threat to Iraqi Security

Iran's ambassador to Iraq since 2017, Masjedi has publicly admitted the IRGC-QF's role in special operations and the training of militia groups in Iraq, Syria, and beyond. He claims credit for organizing and supporting regional militias to advance Iran's interests throughout the Middle East an enterprise that has spawned untold destruction and corruption, robbing Iraq of a stable, prosperous future.

Masjedi has facilitated financial transfers for the benefit of the IRGC-QF in coordination with IRGC-QF financial facilitator Hushang Allahdad, acting at the direction of former IRGC-QF Commander Soleimani and his successor, Esma'il Ghani. Soleimani was designated pursuant to multiple authorities, including E.O. 13224, in 2011, while Allahdad and Ghani were designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 in 2010 and 2012, respectively. Since 2018, Masjedi has helped the IRGC-QF obtain foreign currency in Iraq, in return for equivalent sums that the IRGC-QF in Iran has transferred to relevant entities. Most recently, Masjedi has provided direct assistance in obtaining tens of billions of dinars on behalf of the IRGC-QF in Iraq.

In the decades prior to his ambassadorial appointment, Masjedi was a senior figure overseeing IRGC-QF activities in Iraq, which included attacks targeting U.S. and coalition personnel, as well as kidnappings and the assassination of Iraqi provincial officials who sought to curb Iranian influence in Iraq. The IRGC-QF provided training for Iraqi recruits, often inside Iran. The Iraqi recruits hailed from groups loyal to, and supported by, the IRGC-QF, which help maintain Iranian influence in Iraqi politics and security. The IRGC-QF also manufactured and distributed weapons, including explosively formed penetrators, that killed and wounded hundreds during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Masjedi is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the IRGC-QF.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

All property and interests in property of the individual designated today, subject to U.S. jurisdiction, are blocked, and U.S persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with him or the blocked property. In addition, foreign financial institutions that knowingly facilitate significant transactions for, or persons that provide material or certain other support to, the individual designated today risk exposure to sanctions that could sever their access to the U.S. financial system or block their property and interests in property under U.S. jurisdiction.

(Source: US Dept of the Treasury)

(Picture credit: Tasnim, under Creative Commons licence)

By Al Monitor staff. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

Iran welcomes Iraq's new prime minister

Iranian officials have welcomed the appointment of Mustafa al-Kadhimi as the new prime minister-designate of Iraq.

Abbas Mousavi, spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, said the Islamic Republic of Iran "welcomes the agreement between all of Iraq's political parties to introduce Khadhimi as the prime minister and sees it as the correct path and step."

Iran's ambassador to Iraq, Iraj Masjedi, tweeted a similar sentiment, saying that Iran will support whoever is selected by Iraq's parliament.

Click here to read the full article.

Iran’s Ambassador to Iraq Iraj Masjedi (pictured) praised the Baghdad government’s move to remove visa restrictions for Iranian pilgrims visiting the Arab country during the Arbaeen season and said the Islamic Republic will do the same for the Iraqi nationals in the near future.

Speaking at a meeting of the Arbaeen Headquarters of the western province of Ilam on Tuesday, Masjedi hailed the recent reopening of the Khosravi border crossing and the removal of visa restrictions for Iranians during the Arbaeen season, which marks the 40th day of the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Shiite Imam.

He further said Iraqi nationals will soon be allowed to enter Iran without visas for 65 days.

To reciprocate Iraq’s move regarding visa-free travels for Iranian pilgrims, Iran plans to allow Iraqi nationals to enter the country without visas for 65 days as of October 24, he added.

Speaking on Monday, Hossein Zolfaqari, Iran’s deputy interior minister for security affairs, said three million pilgrims had crossed the country’s four borders with Iraq for Arbaeen pilgrimage by then.

This year, the four borders of Khosravi, Mehran, Chazzabeh, and Shalamcheh are open to the Arbaeen pilgrims.

Arbaeen, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shiite Imam.

Each year, a huge crowd of Shiites flock to the Iraqi city of Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.

In August, Iran and Iraq signed an agreement in Tehran to reopen the Khosravi border crossing and remove visa restrictions for Iranian Arbaeen pilgrims.

Iran and Iraq also agreed to raise the level of services and facilities for the pilgrims and enhance border security during the Arbaeen season, which will culminate in a large gathering in Karbala on October 19.

(Source: Tasnim, under Creative Commons licence)

Iran Has Taken Invaluable Steps to Cement Ties with Iraq: Envoy

Iran’s Ambassador to Iraq Iraj Masjedi highlighted the importance of bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries and said Tehran has taken major strides to strengthen ties with Baghdad.

“We are trying to boost our relations with Iraq in all areas,” Masjedi said, addressing an appreciation ceremony for the outgoing Iranian consuls in the Iraqi cities of Sulaymaniyah and Karbala.

“The embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Baghdad, as well as the affiliated organizations and consulates and other governmental agencies of Iran in Iraq, have taken invaluable strides and actions at various political, economic and security levels to strengthen relations between the two countries in recent years,” the diplomat noted.

Masjedi further pointed to historical, cultural and ideological commonalities of the two countries and said closer ties in all fields are in line with the interests of both Iran and Iraq.

Iran and Iraq enjoy cordial political, security and cultural ties but due to some internal and regional problems including Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL) terrorism in Iraq, they have not been able to increase their trade volume.

Heading a high-ranking delegation, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif recently paid an official visit to Iraq to boost ties with the Arab country in the sanctions era.

US President Donald Trump’s administration announced plans in March to extend a 90-day waiver for the second time to let Iraq continue energy imports from Iran.

(Source: Tasnim, under Creative Commons licence)

Iranian ambassador to Baghdad said Iran and Iraq are weighing plans to eliminate US dollar in trade transactions and also lift visa requirements for citizens of the two countries.

Speaking at a TV program on Saturday night, Iraj Masjedi said Tehran and Baghdad are considering plans to use Iraqi dinar for trade transactions or develop barter trade considering the banking problems caused by the US sanctions on Iran.

He also voiced Iran’s willingness to remove visa restrictions for travels between the two countries, saying the idea of lifting visa requirements for merchants and business people was discussed during Iraqi President Barham Salih’s Saturday visit to Tehran.

Masjedi highlighted the ample opportunities available for the Iranian business sector available in the Iraqi market, saying the Baghdad government welcomes foreign investments.

“The government of Iraq is seeking foreign investment in the economic field, and has now offered 1,200 projects worth $100 billion,” the ambassador added.

He assured Iranian investors of improving security in Iraq, saying the security conditions in the Arab country’s inland and border regions have been getting better since the defeat of the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group.

The Iraqi president visited Tehran on Saturday with a ranking delegation for a series of political and economic talks.

After high-profile talks between the Iranian and Iraqi delegations, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the two neighbors can increase their annual trade from the current $12 billion to $20 billion.

Rouhani also noted that the two sides discussed ways for cooperation in the energy, power and oil industry, including the extraction of petroleum, and a plan to connect the two countries’ railroad networks.

(Source: Tasnim, under Creative Commons licence)

By Ali Mamouri for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

The Prime Minister of Iraqi Kurdistan, Nechirvan Barzani, has received Iran’s new ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Iraj Masjedi, accompanied by Iran’s Consul General in Erbil.

Recalling old relations between Kurdistan Region and the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ambassador Masjedi expressed his wish to further develop the ties between Erbil and Tehran.

He expressed his readiness to exert all the efforts to help settle the outstanding issues between Erbil and Baghdad through dialogue.

He also reiterated his country’s support for the friendship between the Kurdistan Region and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked the Islamic Republic of Iran for its support to the people of Kurdistan during difficult times and valued the attempts by Mr. Masjedi in the past and now to help developing the relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Prime Minister Barzani stressed that resolving the outstanding issues between Erbil and Baghdad needs serious dialogue, and that the Islamic Republic of Iran can play a positive role in this regard.

The fight against the Islamic State terrorist organization, ISIS, and regional developments, were also discussed in the meeting.

(Source: KRG)