Iraqi, Iranian parliament speakers trade map messages during Baghdad visit

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A diplomatic exchange between Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi and his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has spilled into a public disagreement over the name of a key waterway during Ghalibaf's visit to the Iraqi capital. The dispute was triggered by a photo released during Ghalibaf's trip showing a map behind him using the Persian term "Persian Gulf," which drew a sharp response from al-Halbusi. On Thursday, al-Halbusi posted a photo on his social media account in which a map behind him was labeled in Arabic as the "Arab Gulf," a pointed rejoinder to his Iranian guest. Ghalibaf had arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday for an official visit and met with al-Halbusi to discuss strengthening bilateral ties, reactivating parliamentary friendship committee and expanding joint cooperation. During the talks, al-Halbusi asked that Iraq's distinct interests in oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz be safeguarded, while Ghalibaf expressed Iran's commitment to deepening economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. Ghalibaf began his Baghdad visit by visiting a memorial near Baghdad International Airport for former Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Qassem Soleimani and former Popular Mobilization Forces commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who were killed in a 2020 strike near the airport. No further details on the two speakers' discussions were immediately available.