Iranian president calls for European style borderless Islamic union

During his visit to Iraq, the Iranian president advocated for the formation of a European style borderless Islamic union while the very borders he suggests opening are hotbeds of smuggling and extremist infiltration.

Masoud Pezeshkian’s vision to remove borders between Islamic countries comes across as an unrealistic proposition in spite of framing it as a solution to strengthen ties among Islamic nations and counteract Western sanctions, mainly affecting Iran. 

The Islamic president failed to acknowledge the intricate web of illegal activities that thrive at the borders. For years, Iran has been at the center of illicit smuggling networks, ranging from narcotics to weapons, that have destabilized not only its own economy but those of its neighbors.

Observers say Pezeshkian’s rhetoric dismisses the truth that removing the borders would not create the utopian unity he envisions but would instead exacerbate the already rampant flow of narcotics and illegal goods.

Iran has long been a hub for drug trafficking, particularly with its proximity to Afghanistan, one of the world’s largest producers of opium. The smuggling routes that traverse Iran’s eastern and western borders bring vast quantities of heroin and other narcotics into the region, causing immense harm to public health and economic stability in Iran and the region.

Beyond narcotics, smuggling of goods, especially dollars, has been an issue for Iran. Pezeshkian’s government, facing international sanctions, has increasingly relied on its proxy forces in countries like Iraq to funnel dollars back into Iran. This has led to severe economic instability in Iraq, with the US imposing restrictions on Iraqi banks to curb the illegal dollar trade.

The result has been a dual exchange rate system and skyrocketing inflation in Iraq, which has spurred public protests and deepened the country’s economic crisis.

The president’s speech also neglected the security threats, and terrorism that exist due to Iran’s own destabilizing actions in the region. For years, Iran has created and supported proxy militias in countries like Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, contributing to civil conflicts and power struggles. In Iraq, these groups have political power and control over key institutions, making it difficult for any genuine economic or political unity to be achieved.

Middle Eastern nations are generally very protective of their borders, mainly concerned about their security potentially threatened by state and non-state actors.

Meanwhile, informed sources have told Iran International that in a meeting Iraq’s foreign minister strongly opposed Masoud Pezeshkian’s proposal for settling Baghdad’s debt to Tehran using a joint currency during a lengthy meeting. Iraq insists that Iran can only receive its payments by purchasing non-sanctioned goods from the country.

Sources said that during Pezeshkian’s meeting with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, Pezeshkian requested that Iraq settle its debt to Iran using "a joint currency similar to the Russia-Iraq project."

The meeting, which lasted about 40 minutes longer than scheduled, saw Iraq’s foreign minister firmly reject Pezeshkian’s proposal. The Iraqi side argued that settling the debt based on Pezeshkian’s suggestion could weaken the value of the Iraqi dinar.

On Thursday, Pezeshkian arrived in Erbil for his first official visit to the Kurdistan Region since taking office in July. Upon his arrival at Erbil International Airport, Pezeshkian was welcomed by Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, as part of his wider tour of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
During his visit, Pezeshkian is set to hold separate meetings with key Kurdish leaders, including Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) President Masoud Barzani, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.