“The visit by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s president to Baghdad will be a cornerstone in relations between the two countries and the aim of the visit is strengthening bilateral relations in all the political, economic, cultural and social dimensions,” Masjedi told reporters in Baghdad on Saturday.
He added that Iran ranks first in Iraq’s market, saying, “Baghdad is the first destination for the Islamic Republic’s exports and China and Turkey follow Tehran.”
“The capacities of both states are way bigger and Tehran aims to boost its trade volume with Iraq to $20bln,” Masjedi said.
President Rouhani is set to pay an official visit to Iraq later this month in order to boost bilateral ties between the two neighbors amid US sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
Rouhani will travel to Baghdad on March 11 to hold talks with Iraqi officials. A high-ranking delegation is set to accompany the president.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his deputy Seyed Abbas Araqchi as well as Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zangeneh and Central Bank Governor Abdoldnasser Hemmati have all – in their recent trips to Iraq – made preparations for Rouhani’s upcoming visit.
It will be Rouhani’s first visit to Iraq during his tenure.
