Iran, Iraq reach deals to broaden ties

Iran’s caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi says Tehran and Baghdad have reached three new agreements to broaden their two-way relations.

The Iranian top foreign ministry official said during his recent visit to Iraq, the two sides conferred over issues of mutual interest and made decisions, including formation of supreme joint economic committee, joint political committee and supreme committee on border issues with the aim of examining problems and border issues.

Elaborating on the subjects of his meetings with Iraqi officials, the Iranian caretaker foreign minister said various issues, including political, economic, regional and international developments were discussed.

The top Iranian diplomat reiterated that the deputy foreign ministers of the two states would follow up the formation of the joint political committee soon.

During the meetings, Iran set forth the Iranian pilgrims’ problems and the two states vowed to continue negotiations to resolve pilgrimage and customs problems, Salehi told IRNA on Friday.

He also hailed the formation of Iraq’s national unity government with the participation of various political Iraqi groups, saying, “Today, the stage is set for expansion of the two states’ relations in all areas more than before.”

The senior Iranian official also touched upon his meetings with senior Iraqi clerics, who he said had insisted on protection of Islam and Muslims.

Heading a high ranking delegation, Salehi arrived in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Wednesday to hold talks with senior Iraqi officials on bilateral relations and regional issues.

He was welcomed by Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari at Baghdad International Airport upon his arrival.

In addition to holding meeting with prominent political Iraqi figures, the Iranian top foreign ministry official held talks with Iraq’s senior Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

After the meeting, Salehi told reporters that he has sent Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s warmest regards to Ayatollah Sistani.