WANA – Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian highlights “fast and effective” regional cooperation between Iran and Iraq, saying the two neighboring countries need to further develop ties, particularly in the parliamentary sector.

 

The top Iranian diplomat, who is in Baghdad on an official two-day visit, was speaking in a meeting with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halboosi on Wednesday.

 

He said Iran attaches great significance to Iraq’s development and progress, commending the two sides’ efforts to prepare a comprehensive document for long-term bilateral cooperation.

 

Amir-Abdollahian noted that the expansion of transit cooperation and the construction of railways linking the southern Iraqi oil city of Basra to the Iranian border town of Shalamcheh and the Iranian city of Kermanshah to the Iraqi capital Baghdad would play an effective role in increasing economic and trade exchanges between the two countries.

 

Halboosi, for his part, said further enhancing parliamentary relations with Iran is among the Iraqi parliament’s priorities.

 

Amir-Abdollahian arrived in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Wednesday to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues with high-ranking Iraqi officials.

 

Earlier on Wednesday, the top Iranian diplomat attended a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein and held separate meetings with President Abdul Latif Rashid and Prime Minister Mohammad Shia Al-Sudani.

 

Iran wants development, stability for Iraq: Amir-Abdollahian

In a Wednesday meeting with the head of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, the Iranian foreign minister said Iran wants to see development and stability in Iraq.

 

Maliki also outlined the latest political situation in Iraq and said the expansion of all-out ties with Iran is among his country’s foreign policy priorities.

 

Iran FM hails PMU efforts to fight Daesh terrorists

The Iranian foreign minister also hailed great efforts by the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), known in Arabic as Hashd al-Sha’abi, to fight Daesh terrorists and restore stability and security to Iraq.

 

In a meeting with the PMU Chairman Falih al-Fayyadh, Amir-Abdollahian also said Iran regards the stability and security of Iraq as its own.

 

For his part, Fayyadh appreciated Iran’s constant efforts to ensure stability in border areas with Iraq and across the region and stressed the importance of maintaining security cooperation between the two countries.

Source: PTV