Iran VP meets senior Iraqi clerics

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi has met senior Iraqi clerics, including Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, during his official visit to the country.
“Ayatollah Sistani supported boosting ties between the two countries and nations of Iran and Iraq, and called for expansion of relations in all fields,” Rahimi told reporters after his talks with the grand ayatollah in southern Iraqi city of Najaf on Thursday .

Rahimi, who was in Iraq for a two-day official visit, also met with other senior Iraqi clerics, including Ayatollah Mohammad Saeed al-Hakim, Ayatollah Sheikh Mohammed Ishaq al-Fayyadh and Ayatollah Sheikh Basheer Hussain Najafi.

The Iranian first vice president left Najaf for Tehran early on Friday after holding talks with senior Iraqi officials.

He said that his talks with Iraqi officials were “useful and constructive talks” and two sides agreed to increase the volume of Tehran-Baghdad trade to $20 billion in the near future.

Iran and Iraq on Wednesday inked six Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) to expand cooperation in various sectors such as information technology, health and medication and culture.

The documents were signed by the Iranian vice president and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad.

Maliki has hailed Iranian vice president’s Baghdad visit, saying it is a “major step” toward enhancing relations between the two neighboring countries.

“The growing ties between Tehran and Baghdad indicate the great determination of the officials and nations of the two countries to enhance relations,” Iraqi premier.

“This visit paved the way for Tehran and Baghdad to expand their cooperation in the areas of energy, oil, electricity, gas, industry and agriculture among other fields,” Maliki pointed out.