Iran to Expand Ties with Iraq, India

Zarif said on Thursday that he would head a large economic delegation to India next week, stressing the active participation of the country’s private sector in foreign relations sector.

According to Fars News Agency, the top Iranian diplomat added that he would then visit Iraq a week after his India visit, saying the private sector may also accompany him to Baghdad.

Meanwhile, Iraqi FM Mohamed Ali Al-hakim said Wednesday that Zarif would make an official visit to Baghdad in January.

Speaking to a gathering of journalists, Iraq's foreign minister said that his country is "not obliged" to abide by sanctions imposed by the US against Iran and would be pursuing options to continue trade.

He added that the sanctions against Iran were 'unilateral, not international' and could be bypassed

Last Friday, Iranian Ambassador to Baghdad Iraj Masjedi, in a meeting with former Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, voiced Tehran’s readiness to expand bilateral ties with the Arab neighbor in all areas, asserting that the Islamic Republic will continue helping Iraq’s reconstruction.

Bilateral cooperation and the regional development were other topics discussed between al-Abadi and Masjedi.

In the meantime, Masjedi expressed Iran's support for Iraq during the reconstruction era.

“Iran is ready for cooperation with Iraq in all fields,” the Iranian diplomat reassured.

On December 26, Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian announced his country's preparedness to participate in projects to reconstruct Iraq after the devastating war launched by the US and its allies against the country.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to participate in reconstruction of Iraq, in particular, in infrastructural projects, Ardakanian told reporters upon arrival in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad on Wednesday.

Meantime, Iraqi Electricity Minister Luay al-Khateeb called for the development of relations with Iran, saying that Iraq is interested in cooperation with all countries, in particular, Iran.

He referred to the growing population in Iraq, and noted that Baghdad is thirsty for energy as a pre-condition to its development.

In relevant remarks earlier this month, Iraqi Minister of Construction and Housing Bangen Rekani had voiced his country's interest in Iranian firms' partnership in that country's reconstruction and development projects.

"My country welcomes the presence and participation of Iranian companies for reconstruction of different regions in Iraq," Rekani said in a meeting with Hassan Danayeefar, an advisor to Iranian first vice-president for economic relations with Iraq.

During the meeting, the two sides touched on the latest status of bilateral relations and topics of mutual interest, including ways to arrange for the payments of Iranian companies.

Danayeefar, for his part, said that the Iranian firms are ready to cooperate in the reconstruction process of Iraq which is damaged by the war on ISIL terrorists.