Iran, Iraq parliament speakers vow to curb Western influence during Karbala visit

KARBALA, Iraq — Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Kalibaf said Thursday that the peoples of Iran and Iraq would not allow the West to dictate their destiny or remain on the margins of others' narratives. Speaking at a commemorative event in Karbala held on the 40th day after the death of former Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, Kalibaf said the two countries had taken steps toward closer ties in response to every effort by their enemies to drive them apart. Kalibaf said Iran and Iraq have a clear agenda to strengthen their security and stability, cut foreign influence and identify projects that would improve living standards for their peoples. He arrived in Baghdad the previous morning with a high-level delegation on an official visit scheduled to last three days, which then continued with the commemoration in Karbala. No further details on the delegation's program were immediately available.