This article outlines the diplomatic relationship between India and Iraq: the historical background, the anniversary of diplomatic relations, India's position on Iraq since 2003, recent high-level visits and meetings, and the dialogue mechanisms through which the two governments engage. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of June 2026.

Historical ties

According to the MEA brief of June 2026, India and Iraq have historical and civilisational ties. The brief notes that the Iraqi port of Basra was the market par excellence of Indian merchandise for the Arab world, and a pearl trade hub for Indian traders and jewellers. During the colonial era, Indian soldiers and railway workers left an imprint in the region.

The spiritual links between the two countries, including pilgrimage to shrines in Iraq, are described in this guide's article on culture, education and the Indian community.

Anniversary of diplomatic relations

On 15 February 2022, Iraq Post unveiled a special commemorative postage stamp in Baghdad to celebrate the 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between India and Iraq. The brief notes that the Friendship Treaty between India and Iraq was signed in 1952. The same stamp marked 75 years of India's Independence (Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav) and 100 years of the establishment of the Iraqi state.

India's position since 2003

The brief states that since the outbreak of war in Iraq in 2003, India has been supporting a free, democratic, pluralistic, federal and unified Iraq. India has also made statements at UN Security Council briefings on the situation in Iraq from time to time. India's relief and reconstruction assistance is described in this guide's article on development partnership and cooperation.

High-level visits and meetings

The brief summarises the following recent political exchanges:

  • On 25 September 2024, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mr. Fuad Hussein, on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
  • On August 17, 2024, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Iraq and the Deputy Minister for Upstream Affairs of the Ministry of Oil took part online in the Foreign Ministers' and Energy Ministers' sessions of the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit.
  • A 3-member Iraqi Naval delegation led by the Iraqi Commander of the Naval Force visited Vishakhapatnam to participate in MILAN-2024, a multi-national naval exercise held in India from February 19 to 27, 2024.
  • On June 19-20, 2023, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Oil Mr. Hayan Abdul Ghani visited New Delhi to hold the 18th session of the India-Iraq Joint Commission Meeting with the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Hardeep S. Puri. He called on the Vice President, met the Minister of Health and Chemicals and Fertilizers, and addressed a business meeting organised by CII.
  • In March 2023, Iraqi NSA Mr. Qassem Al-Araji visited India for the India-Iraq Security Dialogue, met the Indian NSA and visited several facilities in India.
  • On February 20, 2023, Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, Secretary (CPV&OIA), Ministry of External Affairs, visited Baghdad to hold the 2nd round of the India-Iraq Foreign Office Consultations with Dr. Hisham Al-Alawi, Undersecretary for Political Planning Affairs in Iraq's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the February 2023 visit, the Indian delegation also met the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Oil, the Minister of Trade, the NSA and the President of the Sunni Awqaf Board. It visited the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where it met KDP President Mr. Masoud Barzani and the Prime Minister of the KRG, as well as the KRG's Deputy Prime Minister, its Minister and Head of Department of Foreign Relations, and its Minister of Trade and Industry.

Dialogue mechanisms

The visits above show three institutional channels named in the brief:

  • the India-Iraq Joint Commission Meeting, whose 18th session was held in New Delhi in June 2023
  • the India-Iraq Foreign Office Consultations, whose 2nd round was held in Baghdad in February 2023
  • the India-Iraq Security Dialogue, held during the Iraqi NSA's visit to India in March 2023

Messages and greetings

The President of India, the Prime Minister of India, the Speaker of Lok Sabha, the External Affairs Minister and the Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas sent congratulatory messages to their Iraqi counterparts on the formation of the new government in Iraq after the November 11, 2025 parliamentary elections.

New Year greetings from the President and the Prime Minister of India were sent to the President and Prime Minister of Iraq. Prime Minister Modi also sent Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-al Adha greetings for 2026 to the President and the Prime Minister of Iraq, and to the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Erbil.