Iran, Iraq’s Kurdistan plan visa waiver

Iran and Iraq’s Kurdistan plan a visa waiver to facilitate cross-border travels as part of stepped-up cooperation between the two sides.

In order to make cross-border travels more convenient for both Iranians and the citizens of the Kurdistan region in northern Iraq, and to encourage a greater level of interaction in order to boost economic and cultural gains for both sides, Iran and Iraq’s Kurdistan are mulling over a scheme to eliminate any visa requirements for travelling purposes, Press TV’s correspondent in Arbil reported on Thursday.

The move is widely regarded as another sign of brotherly and cooperative relationships between the governments and people of the two sides.

Iraqi Kurdistan’s Prime Minister Barham Salih visited Iran recently in an effort to further enhance bilateral relations.

On Jan 10, Salih met with Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and other senior Iranian officials for talks aimed at boosting political and economic ties between the two sides.

During the meeting, he also expressed gratitude for Tehran’s efforts in establishing peace and security in Iraq.

Iranian and Iraqi Kurdish close cooperation dates back to the years of the Iran-Iraq War in the 80s, when they fought against former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein who attacked Iran and also oppressed Iraq’s Kurdish minority.