Iranian FM in Baghdad to Discuss Bilateral, Regional Issues
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Sunday started an official visit to Baghdad in a bid to hold talks with high-ranking Iraqi officials on issues of mutual interest and regional developments.
The Iranian foreign minister's visit to Baghdad came at the invitation of his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari.
During the visit, Zarif is accompanied by Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh.
The two sides plan to discuss bilateral issues, including the 1975 Algiers Agreement, and regional developments, specially growing threat of terrorism and extremism in Iraq.
Iranian and Iraqi oil ministers on July 21, 2013, signed a deal to transfer Iran’s natural gas to Iraqi power plants.
Back in May, Iranian Deputy Oil Minister for International and Commercial Affairs Ali Majedi announced that under a finalized deal, Iran’s gas exports to Iraq will start by March 2015.
During his last trip to Tehran in late February, Zebari emphasized that Iran and Iraq are trying to open up a new chapter in bilateral relations.
He said that in his meeting with Zarif they have “discussed the important and vital issues for the both countries.”
The Iraqi foreign minister further called for the consolidation of relations between the two Muslim countries, and noted, “I assure the people of the both countries that more progress will be created in the ties between the two countries.”
