Watch: The President in Baghdad
President Joseph Aoun arrived at Baghdad International Airport at 10 am on Sunday, where he was received by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani, his office director Ihsan Al Awadi, the head of the Iraqi National Security Service Abdel Karim Al Basri, along with several senior Iraqi officials, the Lebanese ambassador to Iraq Ali Habhab, the chargé d'affaires Nada Majoul, and embassy staff.
The President and the Iraqi Prime Minister proceeded to the platform where the Lebanese and Iraqi national anthems were played, followed by an honor guard review. President Aoun then greeted members of the Iraqi delegation, while Prime Minister Sudani greeted members of the Lebanese delegation.
From the airport, President Aoun made the following statement:
'I am pleased to accept the invitation of my brother, His Excellency the President of the brotherly Republic of Iraq, Abdul Latif Rashid, whom I previously met in Cairo on the sidelines of the extraordinary Arab Summit held in the Egyptian capital. This visit is also an opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani, reflecting the depth of the historic brotherly relations that bind Lebanon and Iraq and embody our shared commitment to enhancing cooperation and coordination in various fields.
This visit is an opportunity to thank the Iraqi leadership and the brotherly Iraqi people for their continuous support to Lebanon and for the valuable assistance they have provided to the Lebanese people, especially during the recent war witnessed by Lebanon. We also highly appreciate the shipments of Iraqi oil, which have provided vital support to Lebanon in its difficult circumstances, expressing the sincere spirit of Arab brotherhood and its noble meanings.
I must also congratulate brotherly Iraq on its outstanding success in hosting the Arab Summit and the Arab Economic Development Summit, which marked an important milestone in the path of joint Arab work. This success reflects Iraq's ability to shoulder its leadership responsibilities in the region and its pivotal role in strengthening Arab solidarity.
I am confident that the talks I will hold today will confirm the complete alignment of views between Lebanon and Iraq, especially regarding deepening coordination and cooperation in all security fields, particularly in combating terrorism and extremism, stemming from our shared belief that security and stability in our countries are interconnected, and that facing security challenges requires joint efforts and exchanging expertise and information.
This visit affirms Lebanon's keenness to develop its relations with brotherly Iraq in various political, economic, cultural, and security fields, serving the interests of our two brotherly peoples and enhancing the stability and prosperity of the region.'
From the airport, President Aoun headed to the Iraqi Presidential Palace to meet with President Rashid.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ya Libnan
an hour ago
- Ya Libnan
The U.S. has changed the course of the conflict—Now it's Iran's turn to change
At 86, Irans Ayatollah Ali Khamanei finds himself completely isolated . He now has a choice . Will he want to be remembered as the leader who destroyed Iran? If the war escalates this is exactly what will happen experts say. But Iran can choose diplomacy. It can choose integration, this will lead to prosperity for it an the whole region and Khamanei will be remembered as the leader who saved Iran By Vlad Green Op-Ed The recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran's three main nuclear sites have done more than damage Tehran's nuclear infrastructure—they may have shifted the trajectory of the entire Middle East. For the first time in years, the United States sent an unmistakable message: Iran's nuclear ambitions are not just a red line for Israel, but for the entire region—and for Washington. The question now is not what the U.S. or Israel will do next. The question is: Will Iran finally get the message? Its nuclear program, masked in the language of national pride and 'resistance,' is now clearly understood as an existential threat—not only to Israel but to the stability of the entire Middle East. Arab neighbors who once remained cautiously silent are now watching closely. They see a dangerous actor risking the security of millions for the sake of ideological expansionism and regional dominance. The United States has changed the course of this conflict. But it is Iran that must decide whether this marks the end of its nuclear delusion or the beginning of a long, bloody road to nowhere. If Iran chooses escalation, the outcome could be devastating—not just militarily, but politically and economically. Its regime is already standing on shaky ground, with a population increasingly fed up with isolation, sanctions, and repression. Another war could push the country into collapse. But there is another path. Iran can choose diplomacy. It can choose integration. It can choose to become part of the new Middle East—one focused on prosperity, regional cooperation, and peace. This is the vision many Arab nations, led by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, are already embracing. Iran is not excluded— unless it chooses to exclude itself . This is a historic turning point. The bombs may have stopped for now, but the political pressure has only just begun. Iran must realize that nuclear weapons will not make it stronger or safer. They will only isolate it further and bring it closer to ruin. The war between Iran and Israel doesn't have to continue. But it won't end through silence or appeasement. It will end when Iran wakes up to the reality that its dreams of domination are a nightmare for the region—and ultimately, for itself. The world has spoken. The U.S. has acted. The next move is Iran's.
Tayyar.org
an hour ago
- Tayyar.org
Nada Boustany to Joe Saddi: Don't evade confrontation—open all the files, from steamships to dams and more
Former Minister of Energy and MP Nada Boustany responded to recent remarks made by current Energy Minister Joe Saddi, stating the following: First, it took you four months just to receive your files, and yet you claim that no power plant has been operational since 2010. Please update your information: the new Zouk and Jiyeh plants were added to the grid in 2017, and they are currently the most cost-efficient in operation. Second, instead of sidestepping confrontation, open all the files—from steamships to dams and beyond. You should have addressed the real cost burden on Lebanese citizens from private generators and compared that to the cost of steamships. If you're interested in reviewing the numbers, we're ready to share the detailed files. Third, were you unaware that the IFC and World Bank were the ones who prepared the term sheet? Your comment about needing them to 'accompany the tender' falls flat, especially considering that the BOT term sheets have been ready for some time now. Your Excellency, if you wish to speak about your accomplishments in public, at least base them on facts. In short, we heard nothing new, just the same old political rhetoric.
Nahar Net
an hour ago
- Nahar Net
Aoun warns against entangling Lebanon in war after US strikes on Iran
President Joseph Aoun said Sunday that Lebanon does not want to 'pay the price of more wars' and that 'there is no national interest' in joining the Israel-Iran war after the U.S. strikes on Iran's key nuclear sites. 'Lebanon, with its leadership, parties and people, realizes today more than ever that it has preciously paid for the wars that erupted on its soil and in the region, and it does not want to pay any further and there is no national interest in that,' Aoun said. 'The cost of these wars has been and will be greater than it can bear,' the president warned. Noting that 'the bombardment of the Iranian nuclear facilities increases the fear that the tensions could spread in a manner that threatens security and stability in many areas and countries,' Aoun urged 'restraint and the launch of constructive and serious negotiations to restore stability in the region's countries and avoid further killing and destruction.' Aoun had earlier received a phone call from Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and they discussed 'the dangerous developments in the region and the possible repercussions on Lebanon.' 'They agreed to keep communication channels open between them and to jointly work to spare Lebanon these situations, put the higher national interest first, and preserve unity and national solidarity,' the National News Agency said. Salam also held phone talks with the ministers of defense and interior and the army chief in order to 'take the necessary security measures to preserve domestic stability and national security during this critical period.' Lebanon's new leadership, which came after Israel and the Hezbollah's devastating war, has urged that the country avoid being dragged into more conflict as it tries to rebuild itself and pull itself from yearslong economic crisis. Hezbollah has not taken military action against Israel in solidarity with its key ally Iran in the conflict, but has not yet commented on Washington's overnight strikes.
