Kadhemi meets Raisi, discusses economic relations
TEHRAN: Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhemi met Iran’s recently-elected President Ebrahim Raisi on Sunday to discuss the neighbours’ economic relations.
Kadhemi is the first foreign leader to visit the Raisi, and he brought along a “high level political and economic delegation,” Iran’s official IRNA news agency said.
Kadhemi told joint news conference that the pair “discussed certain joint economic questions and strategic projects” as well as “increasing trade in the interests of both nations.”
Raisi, who took office last month, said that “financial and monetary relations” were also discussed.
As Iran’s neighbour to the west, Iraq has sought a mediating role between Tehran and Arab nations.
It has tried to broker Iran-saudi talks to soothe tensions between the regional countries.
An Iraqi source had said on Friday that Kadhemi would raise energy co-operation and Iranian-saudi relations in Tehran.
Other hot topics include Iraq’s six-billion-dollar debt to Iran, ater shortages pushed it to turn to its neighbour to cover one-third of its gas and electricity needs.
This summer Iran suspended exports for several days over the outstanding amount.
Meanwhile “the Iraqi prime minister gave us good news about visa exemptions” for Iranians, Raisi said.
Baghdad would “increase as much as possible” the number able to participate in the Arbaeen pilgrimage in the shrine city of Karbala later this month, the Iranian leader added.
Kadhemi’s office had last week announced up to 60,000 Iranians would be able to come.
Arbaeen marks the end of the 40-day mourning period for the killing of Imam Hussein (AS), grandson of the Prophet Mohammed ( PBUH).
The number of visas issued to foreign pilgrims permited has dropped sharply in the past two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Iran and Iraq fought a devastating 1980-1988 war but the 2003 Us-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein led to massive Iranian influence in Iraqi politics.
Separately, at least three rockets landed near Erbil International Airport in northern Iraq, where US forces are stationed, the security service for Iraq’s Kurdistan region said.
There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. Witnesses said they heard at least six explosions in the area.
The airport in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region, has been atacked several times in the past year. US officials blame the attacks on Iran-aligned militias which have staged rocket and drone strikes against US troops in Iraq.