Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa expressed support for the Iraqi prime minister's efforts to bring weapons under state control, saying the two countries have a historic opportunity to build strong states capable of protecting their interests and achieving development and prosperity.
Al-Sharaa made the remarks in an interview with Iraq's Dijlah TV, broadcast Tuesday evening, marking his first media appearance before an Iraqi audience since assuming the presidency in January 2025.
Observers noted that the interview was conducted by Dijlah TV, which is rumored to be owned by the Iraqi prime minister or one of his brothers, rather than the country's official television network.
Al-Sharaa stressed that the destinies of Iraq and Syria are interconnected historically, in the present and in the future. He called for bilateral relations to be governed by established principles that take into account social ties and shared interests, rather than shifting political attitudes.
He described Syria as a strategic gateway for Iraq to the Mediterranean Sea and a corridor connecting it to the West and extending toward the Arabian Gulf.
Despite objections from Iran-aligned political forces and armed factions in Iraq to rapprochement with Syria following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime in 2024, al-Sharaa praised the Iraqi government's position, describing it as positive.
He said the previous Iraqi government, headed by Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, had adopted the right approach and that subsequent developments had helped correct the course advocated by certain political forces.
Bringing Weapons Under State Control
Al-Sharaa expressed support for Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's efforts to combat corruption and ensure that weapons remain exclusively under state control.
He described al-Zaidi as "serious" about pursuing these objectives and affirmed Syria's support for his efforts.
"Building a unified and strong army is a source of strength and protection for everyone," al-Sharaa said.
Addressing shared security concerns, al-Sharaa said the Iraqi government had understood Syria's messages from the outset, despite attempts to undermine its position.
He emphasized the high level of security coordination between the two countries, noting that their shared border was stable and secure, with continued communication to address any concerns or observations.
Regarding ISIS and other extremist groups, al-Sharaa said threats had gradually diminished compared with previous periods, although this did not mean the two countries could consider themselves entirely safe.
Economic Ties
On economic cooperation, al-Sharaa said Syria and Iraq had made considerable progress in recent months.
"The natural course for two neighboring countries such as Syria and Iraq is to build shared interests that will be difficult to unravel in the future, encompassing security, social and economic matters, so that these interests take precedence over shifting political attitudes or political changes," he said.
Regarding the oil pipeline project, al-Sharaa said several companies had visited Syria over the past year, bringing investment proposals worth hundreds of millions of dollars and exploring opportunities that could benefit both countries.
He stressed the need to rebuild oil pipelines to Baniyas, citing their importance to Iraq and the potential benefits they could bring to Syria.
In recent months, Iraqi authorities have continued efforts to diversify the country's oil export routes, particularly through Syrian territory and the port of Baniyas.
Iraq had previously relied heavily on Gulf waters and the Strait of Hormuz, whose closure inflicted severe damage on the Iraqi economy and oil sector.
Social Relations
Al-Sharaa emphasized Syria's strong willingness to deepen social ties with Iraq and facilitate travel and the movement of people between the two countries.
He stressed that Syrian-Iraqi relations are not based on sectarian or ethnic considerations but on shared history, economic interests and the deep ties between their peoples.
Entry into Iraq
The interview also addressed al-Sharaa's entry into Iraq approximately one week to 10 days before the arrival of US forces in 2003.
He said he had traveled there on his own initiative, motivated by what he described as a sense of responsibility toward the Iraqi people.
Al-Sharaa explained that he was imprisoned in Iraq in 2005 and remained in detention until 2011, when he returned to Syria at the beginning of the Syrian uprising.
He maintained that he had not participated in the fighting that took place in Iraq during those years.
