Zarif Briefs Top Clerics on Rouhani’s Iraq Trip, Current Affairs

Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif on Monday briefed senior clerics in the holy city of Qom on current developments and the achievements of President Hassan Rouhani’s first trip to neighboring Iraq since becoming president in 2013.
Political analysts say the three-day visit, which took place earlier this month, signaled to Washington that the religious, cultural and economic bonds that tie the two countries will not be undermined by a focused US effort to isolate Tehran. 
Despite the fact that Baghdad is under pressure from the US administration to limit its relations with Tehran, Rouhani and Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi announced agreements to boost trade, establish a rail link between the two countries and take steps to remove travel restrictions for tourists and investors.