Iran and Iraq Formalize Security Cooperation with New Memorandum of Understanding

On August 11, 2023, Iran and Iraq signed a joint security memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Baghdad, aiming to formalize intelligence sharing, joint patrols, and counter-smuggling operations along their 1,450 km border. The agreement was signed by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani and Iraq’s National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji, with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani present.

This MoU is particularly significant given the historical context of the two nations, which fought an eight-year war in the 1980s. The agreement addresses ongoing security challenges, including the presence of armed Iranian Kurdish opposition groups operating from Iraqi territory, which Iran has accused of staging attacks against it.

The memorandum outlines a framework for several security initiatives, with intelligence sharing at the forefront, followed by coordinated patrols and operations targeting smuggling routes. Iraqi officials clarified that this MoU serves as a framework for cooperation rather than a binding treaty.

This agreement builds on a security treaty signed on March 19, 2023, which aimed to enhance border security and reduce tensions. The new MoU appears to provide an operational layer for implementing the security measures agreed upon in the earlier treaty.

The signing ceremony, attended by Prime Minister al-Sudani, underscores Iraq's commitment to being a stabilizing force in the region. However, the geographical challenges of the border, which includes mountainous terrain and marshland, present significant logistical hurdles for joint security operations.