Iranian President Rouhani begins first official visit to Iraq
BAGHDAD — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani began his first official visit to Iraq on Monday, aiming to strengthen “brotherly ties” between Teheran and Baghdad.
Rouhani arrived at Baghdad International Airport on Monday morning. According to local media’s report, he was scheduled to meet with top Iraqi officials and other political and religious leaders on the day.
Rouhani’s three-day visit came at the invitation of his Iraqi counterpart Barham Salih to discuss bilateral ties and promote cooperation as Iran is the second largest supplier of imported goods to Iraq, including cars, gas, home appliances and vegetables, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Before his departure, Rouhani hailed the “special” relations between the two countries. “We are very much interested to expand our ties with Iraq, particularly our transport cooperation,” Rouhani said at Teheran’s Mehrabad Airport, according to the Xinhua report. “We have important projects that will be discussed during this visit.”
Iran’s state news agency IRNA said a series of agreements will be signed in fields including energy, transport, agriculture, industry, and health during Rouhani’s three-day visit.
The visit will provide an opportunity for reaching “serious understandings” between the two neighbors, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told Iran’s government news agency on Sunday in Baghdad, where he was preparing for the visit together with his Iraqi counterpart Mohammed al-Hakim.
Zarif said Iran is seeking “to assist Iraqi reconstruction after the honorable victory against terrorism”.
“We are proud to stand by Iraq in the war against terrorism. Iran and Iraq represent the pillars of regional security,” he told reporters.
The Iranian minister also thanked the people and government of Iraq for “rejecting the illegitimate sanctions” imposed by the United States.
The US has been exerting sanctions on Iran’s oil industry and its banking and transport sectors after Washington pulled out from the 2015 nuclear deal in May.
Hakim, the Iraqi foreign minister, said Baghdad is looking forward to boosting ties and promoting cooperation in various fields with Teheran.
According to The Associated Press, a report from the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said the two neighbors’ future discussions will address “various issues and regional challenges to achieve security and stability in the region”.
Baghdad has been under pressure from Washington to limit ties with its neighbor, particularly after the US hit Teheran with sanctions.
According to Reuters, Iraq was given limited waivers to continue buying electricity and natural gas from Iran, with Washington calling on Baghdad to partner with US companies to become energy independent.