Iran Urges Closer Economic Ties with Iraq

In a meeting with former Iraqi prime minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi in Tehran on Sunday, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian reiterated Iran’s support for the Iraqi government and nation.

Iran will always stand by the Iraqi nation and government, Amirabdollahian said, expressing satisfaction with the current level of bilateral ties in political, economic, and security fields.

He highlighted, however, the need to make greater efforts to expand ties to a level proportional to the available resources, particularly in the economic sector, Press TV reported.

The Iranian foreign minister also hailed Abdul-Mahdi and other Iraqi leaders’ attempts in preserving the country’s national unity resulting in the election of a new president.

During the meeting, the two sides also discussed the recent developments concerning the talks over the removal of anti-Tehran sanctions and reviving the the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The former Iraqi official and the Iranian minister also exchanged views on reconciliation talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia mediated by Baghdad.

Iraq has hosted several rounds of talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran at the level of intelligence and security heads since last April.