Foreign ministers of Iran and Iraq held a preparatory meeting in Baghdad on Sunday, ahead of President Hassan Rouhani’s Monday trip.
Mohammed Javad Zarif, Iran’s top diplomat, who arrived in the Iraqi capital late Saturday, said his negotiations with his counterpart on bilateral and regional affairs were fruitful and hoped that the agreements would be successfully finalized during Rouhani’s visit.
“Relations between Iran and Iraq are strategic … No country can damage it” he was quoted as saying by IRNA.
Rouhani is to arrive in Baghdad on Monday at the head of a politico-economic delegation for a three-day trip aimed at strengthening mutual ties.
“We are glad that Rouhani is visiting Iraq at an important period in history after this country’s victory over Daesh [the self-styled Islamic State terror group], which was an enemy of humanity,” he said.
Mohamed Ali Alhakim, Iraq’s foreign minister, also described his talks with Zarif as “good and productive”.
“We have pinned great hope on the results of Rouhani’s trip and his meetings with President Barham Salih and Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi,” he said.
Alhakim highlighted the fact that Tehran-Baghdad strategic relations are rooted in their neighborhood, shared history and mutual interests.
Rouhani is to hold multiple meetings in Baghdad with top government officials, ethnic leaders and intellectuals.
He will later travel to Karbala and Najaf where he is set to meet with religious leaders, including Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani.
Iraq is the biggest trade partner of Iran in the region. It imports natural gas and electricity as well as a wide range of goods from Iran.
Iraqi officials have repeatedly declared that relations with Tehran are crucial for them and that they would not wish to spoil them under pressure from third countries.
The close ties are important for Iran as well, especially since the US reimposed sanctions against Tehran and aims to restrict its international trade.
