IranIraq

Iraqi Vice-Speaker Underlines Further Consolidation of Ties with Iran

 

Iraqi Vice-Speaker Bashir Haddad stressed his country’s willingness to further develop relations and cooperation with Iran, reminding of Tehran and Baghdad’s important role in the region.

“Iraq is after more extensive ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran and development of bilateral relations in line with the two countries’ common interests,” Haddad said in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Baghdad on Monday.

He underscored that Iran and Iraq play an important and direct role in the establishment of stability in the region.

A large economic delegation is accompanying the Iranian top diplomat in his visit to Iraq.

Zarif, after a meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Muhammad Ali al-Hakim in Baghdad on Sunday, said Tehran backs Baghdad’s efforts to normalize relations between Damascus and other Arab countries.

Zarif said that he and his counterpart had discussed regional issues such as the situation in Syria, saying that the two sides had talked of the necessity of returning the sovereignty over the whole country to Syria and support the Syrian government in the fight against terrorism.

He added that Iran supports the Iraqi government’s efforts to normalize the Syrian government’s relations with the Arab countries.

The Iranian top diplomat said that relations between Iran and Iraq are not detrimental to any country’s interests, stressing that no other country is allowed to meddle with those bilateral relations.

“The Iranian-Iraqi ties are solid and we do not allow anyone to interfere in the relations between Tehran and Baghdad,” he said during a joint press conference with al-Hakim.

During the press conference, Zarif pointed out that the two foreign ministers had discussed 10 various issues, adding that the two sides had had very close viewpoints on them.

The Iranian top diplomat added that bilateral relations in various fields of trade, politics, people-to-people affairs, health tourism as well as regional developments and cooperation in international organizations were among the issues discussed in the meeting.

The Iranian foreign minister added that it was decided to form a joint committee as soon as possible to deal with the issue of the Arvand Rud River, or as it is called in Iraq the Shatt al-Arab, and to introduce the members of the committee in order to start their work.

“We also support the peace process in Yemen and solutions to stop the bloodshed there,” the Iranian foreign minister added.

Zarif further noted the Islamic Republic of Iran considers Zionist regime of Israel’s policies and the support for that regime to be a major threat to the region. He emphasized that everyone should support the Palestinian cause and the people of Palestine.

Stating that Iran and Iraq share a lot of historical background, Zarif stated that millions of Iranians and Iraqis visit each other’s countries every year, which shows that bilateral relations between Iran and Iraq are “very solid and are not detrimental to anyone’s interests. So we do not allow anyone to meddle with our relations.”

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