Iran and Iraq are taking steps toward deeper technological cooperation, with talks underway to establish a joint artificial intelligence (AI) centre. The initiative, proposed by Iran, could mark a major step forward in scientific collaboration between the two neighboring nations.
Hussein Afshin, Assistant to the Iranian President for Scientific and Technical Affairs and the Knowledge Economy, suggested building the AI centre on one of Iran’s islands He shared the proposal during a meeting in Tehran with Ali Razzouqi, Deputy Head of the Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister.
Afshin stressed that the two countries should move beyond simple agreements and start creating real action plans. He believes the long history of Iran-Iraq relations can help build strong, long-term cooperation in science and technology.
The key phrase Iran-Iraq AI centre summarizes the focus of the discussion. This potential centre could support joint research and development in multiple fields tied to artificial intelligence. Both countries hope that this move can help address several key challenges.
Razzouqi welcomed the idea and noted that cooperation between Sharif University in Iran and the University of Baghdad in Iraq had already shown positive results. He emphasized the potential for AI to help solve problems related to water shortages, energy use, farming needs, and environmental concerns.
The meeting also covered future areas of cooperation. Among the topics were military technologies, cloud seeding, and strategies for managing climate change and dust storms. Leaders from both sides agreed that AI could play a big role in all of these areas.
The phrase Iran-Iraq AI centre came up multiple times during the discussion, highlighting its importance to both sides. Both officials viewed the proposed centre as a foundation for future projects that could benefit not just Iran and Iraq but the broader region as well.
Afshin said that creating shared technological platforms could help both countries make faster progress. He encouraged the formation of expert teams to design and launch the centre as soon as possible. Razzouqi added that Iraq is ready to offer technical teams and financial backing for the project.
This joint effort may signal a new era in regional technology development. If the plan succeeds, the Iran-Iraq AI centre could become a key hub for innovation and cooperation in West Asia.