Iran, Iraq Vow to Boost Ties Despite US Pressure

Iran and Iraq pledged on Monday to bolster their trade and security ties despite a maximalist pressure campaign by the US administration to cut off Tehran’s relations with the rest of the world, particularly its neighbors. 
“Iraq is determined to enhance cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran in different fields, including railroad transport, tourism, environment, industry, mining, science and culture,” Iraqi President Barham Salih told his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani during a meeting in Baghdad.
It is Rouhani’s first official visit to the country that initiated a bloody war against Iran and the latter went all-out to help Iraq in the battle with the self-styled Islamic State terrorist group known as Daesh that had captured the Iraqi city of Mosul and other territories in both Iraq and Syria.