Iran Urges Resumption of Border Trade with Iraq

In a telephone conversation with President of Iraq Barham Salih on Monday, Rouhani called for plans to promote mutual economic cooperation and resume the trade exchanges in compliance with the health protocols.

“We must try to restore the trade exchanges between the two countries to the previous course in full conformity with the health instructions along the entire common borders,” he said.

Rouhani also expressed hope that the joint plans by the two neighbors would raise the level of bilateral economic ties.

He further gave an assurance that Iran’s principled policy entails the enhancement of cooperation and relations with Iraq in all fields, adding, “The Islamic Republic of Iran will stand by the Iraqi government and nation like the past, and calls for the protection of Iraq’s sovereignty and non-interference from foreign powers in the fate of (Iraq’s) nation and government.”

Congratulating his Iraqi counterpart in advance on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, Rouhani expressed satisfaction with the fact that the political processes in Iraq have yielded positive results, all Iraqi groups and tribes have joined hands, and the new Iraqi government has been formed after being approved by the Parliament.

“Political stability in Iraq is important for the region, and this process will be surely a prelude to restoration of Iraq’s prominent role in the region,” the Iranian president said.

The region is currently struggling with a host of problems, such as plummeting oil prices, the coronavirus pandemic, security challenges, and, above all, US interference in the internal affairs of the countries, Rouhani said. “The promotion of relations and cooperation between the friendly governments and nations in all fields could help overcome the problems.”

For his part, the Iraqi president tendered congratulations on Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, hailed the level of ties between Baghdad and Tehran, and stressed the need for the officials of the two countries to push for the expansion of relations in various fields.

Highlighting the significance of political relations between the two neighbors, Salih said, “Stability and security in Iraq requires cooperation from the friendly and neighboring states, particularly the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Pointing to the political efforts and activities for bringing various Iraqi groups, parties and tribes together to elect a new prime minister, the president emphasized, “Ensuring Iraq’s sovereignty and supremacy is an undeniable necessity that must be recognized in making decisions about the future of this country.”

“The foreign powers must not interfere in deciding the fate of this country,” the Iraqi president underlined.

Deploring the destructive acts of interference from the outsiders in the region, he said, “The Middle East region cannot withstand new crises, so that the interference from the aliens in the region must end immediately.”

Iraq’s new prime minister took office on May 6 after the Iraqi parliament approved a new government following nearly six months of political wrangling.