Iran, Iraq to Further Expand Trade Ties

Zarif said on Sunday that he would attend three trade meetings between the economic agents of Iranian and Iraqi private sectors in cities of Baghdad, Karbala and Sulaymaniyah.

The Iranian foreign minister commended Iraq's positive stance on the promotion of ties with Iran, saying the two countries have managed to foil US bids to sabotage mutual relations.

"After [achieving] victory against the ISIL, some countries, including the US, have created certain problems in the way of the two countries' cooperation, but fortunately, they were defused thanks to the wisdom of the two countries' officials," the top diplomat highlighted.

The Iranian diplomatic chief praised the Iraqi government's positive stance on unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States against the Iranian nation and noted that he plans to hold talks with senior officials of the Arab country about ways to further boost cooperation.

Earlier on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi announced that a large economic delegation will accompany the top diplomat in this visit.

Qassemi said that CEOs of dozens of entrepreneur companies will accompany the foreign minister on this visit.

Meeting with high-ranking Iraqi officials, attending joint business conferences in several Iraqi cities, especially Karbala and Sulaymaniyah, are on Zarif's agenda, according to Qassemi.

In a related front, Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi said that his country is enjoying friendly and close ties with Tehran, adding that Baghdad is focused on its commonalities with neighboring countries, including Iran.

Abdul-Mahdi highlighted the close and amicable relations with Iran, saying his government believes in focusing on commonalities in its interactions with neighbors.

He made the remark in response to a question about Iran and Iraq’s relations during his term in office in his weekly press conference on last Tuesday.

“In our engagement with neighbors, our emphasis is on working together on commonalities, and through this way, we can gradually resolve disputes with confidence and goodwill,” he added.

Elsewhere, he stressed that all developments happening on shared borders with Syria, as well as ISIL activities, are under his government’s constant watch, adding that Iraq is in contact with Syria, Turkey and the international coalition in this regard.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Al-hakim said on last 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

On December 28, 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.