Iran’s foreign minister in Iraq for talks

In his first foreign visit as Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif has travelled to Baghdad to hold talks with Iraqi officials on regional and bilateral issues.

Zarif was welcomed by his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari upon arriving in capital, Baghdad, on Sunday.

The Iranian foreign minister is scheduled to hold talks with Zebari, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Parliament Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi during his visit.

Head of Majlis Research Center Kazem Jalali and Iraq’s Ambassador to Iran Mohammad Majid al-Sheikh are part of the delegation accompanying the Iranian foreign minister.

Prior to his visit, Zarif described Iraq as one of the most important neighbors of Iran, adding that the trip was aimed at drawing the two sides closer on regional and bilateral issues.

Zarif said the threat of a US military attack against Syria was among the reasons for his visit to Iraq.

“We and our Iraqi brothers and sisters have common concerns about new warmongering in the region,” the Iranian foreign minister said.