Iraqi Kurdistan Eyeing Further Ties with Iran

Talking on the sidelines of Joint Iran-KRG Economic Conference in Erbil wherein Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif delivered a speech, Hamlan added that KRG has seven border crossings, three of which are international, and two others are to be launched soon.

As to the volume of trade exchanges, he said that annual trade between them stands at over six billion dollars, adding that the economic exchanges increased by 70 percent in 2018.

Hamlan hoped that existing obstacles in the way of joint productions would be removed through new economic prudence and establishment of industrial townships.

The Iranian diplomatic chief arrived in Iraqi capital city of Baghdad on Sunday in the evening at the head of a large politico-economic delegation.

Addressing media upon arriving in Baghdad, Zarif said that he is slated to take part in 3 trade meetings in different cities of the Arab country. 

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

Elsewhere, 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.

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.