The following report is now a complimentary offering from MEMRI's Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM). For JTTM subscription information, click here.
On March 12, 2025, the press office of Qais Al-Khazali, the Secretary General of the Iran-backed Iraqi militia Asa'ib Ahl Al-Haq (AAH) and a U.S.-designated terrorist, published a press release on Telegram about a same-day meeting between Al-Khazali and the Russian Ambassador to Iraq.[1]
"Painful Events In Syria's Coastal Areas"
Highlighting the topics of discussion, the statement disclosed that both sides discussed the recent sectarian violence in Syria's coastal regions, which led to the killing of many Shi'ite civilians and loyalist of the former Assad regime.
"The Secretary-General of the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq Movement, His Eminence Sheikh Qais Khazali, received His Excellency the Russian Ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Elbrus Kotrashev. During the meeting, they discussed international and regional developments, particularly the ongoing situation in Syria and the painful events taking place in the coastal regions."
Joint Iraqi-Russian Committee
The statement continued, noting that the two sides also discussed the latest developments in the war between Russia and Ukraine. "The Russian ambassador praised the tenth meeting of the Iraqi-Russian Committee for Trade, Economic, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, which was attended by the Russian Minister of Energy, stressing the importance of strengthening relations between the two countries."
Background
The tenth session of the Iraqi-Russian Joint Committee was held in Baghdad on February 26, 2025. The Iraqi contingent was headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fuad Hussein, while the Russian delegation was led by Russia's Minister of Energy, Sergei Tsivlev.[2]
The committee's work culminated in the signing of agreements and memoranda of understanding, most notably:
A Maritime transport agreement between the Ministries of Transport of the two countries;
A Memorandum of Understanding for health cooperation between the Iraqi and Russian Ministries of Health;
A Memorandum of Understanding between the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce and the Federation of Russian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and
A Memorandum of Understanding between the Russian energy corporation, Gazprom, and the Iraqi Central Oil Company.
During a joint press conference, the Iraqi Foreign Minister noted that major Russian companies are investing approximately $19 billion in the Iraqi oil sector, and that the meeting also addressed the issue of oil exports from the Kurdistan region of Iraq to Turkey. The discussion also touched on international and regional developments.
The full text of this post is available to subscribers.
Please login or register to request subscription information from MEMRI
