Iran vice president in Iraq for talks

Iranian Vice President for International Affairs Ali Saeedlou has travelled to Iraq to discuss the expansion of economic and political cooperation between Tehran and Baghdad.

Saeedlou arrived in the Iraqi capital on Monday and is due to exchange views with senior Iraqi officials on matters of mutual interest and ways to expand mutual ties.

The visit is aimed at exploring ways to expand bilateral relations between Iran and Iraq in various fields, particularly the economic sector.

Saeedlou is also expected to visit Arbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan region, to hold talks with top Kurdish officials.

During his visit, Saeedlou will participate in the first meeting of the Tehran-Arbil economic cooperation.

Earlier on Saturday, Nechirvan Idris Barzani, the prime minister of Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), arrived in Tehran to meet with Iranian officials and discuss regional developments, bilateral ties, and ways to expand economic cooperation.

During a Sunday meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, Barzani underlined that Iran’s security is of major importance for the KRG, adding that, “We will not allow Iran’s security to be threatened.”