Iranian Vice President Hossein Zolfaqari speaks alongside Iraqi officials at the Ministry of Health in Baghdad about plans to sign a new memorandum on drug control.
Iraq, Iran to sign new anti-drug agreement aimed at trafficking, treatment
BAGHDAD — Iraq and Iran will sign a new memorandum of understanding Thursday to expand cooperation in combating drug trafficking and improving treatment for addicts, Iranian Vice President Hossein Zolfaqari announced.
Zolfaqari, who also serves as secretary-general of Iran’s Drug Control Headquarters, said both countries had made progress dismantling smuggling networks and would seek to deepen coordination. “We confirm that we have cooperation in various fields, and we have worked to document cooperation in combating drugs and treating addicts,” he said. “The result of this cooperation is that we have been able to dismantle smuggling networks between the two countries, and we aim to strengthen cooperation in prevention, treatment, and exchange of experiences.”
The new agreement builds on a memorandum signed two years ago. Iraq’s Health Minister Saleh al-Hasnawi said it had already produced “serious cooperation” between Iraqi and Iranian health and security authorities. “It has already reduced drug trafficking crimes across the border, as well as cooperation in training and rehabilitation for staff in both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Interior,” he said.
Al-Hasnawi described Wednesday’s meeting in Baghdad as the second gathering of the joint committee on narcotics and psychotropic substances, adding that its recommendations were “effective, realistic, and applicable.” He said Iraq seeks stronger coordination with Iran and other neighbors “to limit this phenomenon that has begun to affect our society.”
Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari also backed regional cooperation as a key strategy. “This cooperation has resulted in the dismantling of a large number of drug trafficking and smuggling networks, as well as in the exchange of information, expertise, and training,” he said. “We believe that international cooperation and joint coordination between Iraq and neighboring countries is a fundamental pillar in the field of drug control.”
Zolfaqari said Thursday’s signing would mark a new phase. “We have made good decisions in our meetings, and God willing, tomorrow we will sign the memorandum of understanding in this field,” he said. “We aspire to more cooperation on all levels, to improve prevention, strengthen treatment, and continue dismantling trafficking networks.”
Iraq’s Interior Ministry last month said it had dismantled hundreds of smuggling networks and secured 300 death sentences against traffickers over the past two and a half years. Brig. Gen. Miqdad Miri, director of relations and media at the ministry, said 16 international operations were carried out in the past 18 months, including a joint raid with Saudi Arabia that seized seven million Captagon pills moving through Syria, Turkey, and Iraq.