Iraqi PM in Tehran for high-level talks on first foreign visit

Heading a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, Kadhimi was welcomed by Iran’s Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian upon arrival at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport on Tuesday.

The Iraqi premier is set to hold a meeting with Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani. Delegations from the two neighboring countries will hold talks on a range of issues.

During his two-day visit to Tehran, Kadhimi is also expected to meet with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani and Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf.

Kadhimi’s visit to Iran is his first foreign trip as the Iraqi prime minister.

The trip comes on the heels of a visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to Iraq, where he held talks with officials in Baghdad and the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.