FM Zarif in Iraq to discuss regional security

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has traveled to Baghdad ahead of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi's visit to Tehran on his first foreign trip.

“My trip, which had already been planned, provides a good opportunity to make necessary arrangements before the Iraqi prime minister’s visit,” Zarif told reporters upon arrival in Baghdad Sunday, Press TV reported. 

Zarif went straight into talks with PM Kadhimi as well as President Barham Salih, Parliament Speaker Mohamed al-Halbousi, head of Supreme Judicial Council Faiq Zidan and chairman of Hashd al-Sha'abi volunteer forces Falih al-Fayyadh.

Topics on his discussions were agreements reached during President Hassan Rouhani's visit to Baghdad in March 2019 and the US assassination of Lt. General Qassem Soleimani in January, Zarif said.

In his talks with Kadhimi, the two sides explored ways to develop bilateral relations and discussed the latest developments in the region and the world as well as the situation in Iraq.

At Baghdad airport, the Iranian foreign minister visited the site of the martyrdom where the car carrying Lt. Gen. Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy head of Hashd al-Sha'abi, was targeted by the US terrorist forces on January 3.

Iran, Iraq pursuing assassination case

Zarif told a joint news conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein that the assassination by the US was a great blow to the fight against terrorism and that Iran and Iraq were pursuing the case through legal channels.

He said relations between the two countries are based on mutual respect for their sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as non-interference in each other's internal affairs.

Iraq and Iran, Zarif said, stood side by side to confront Daesh and defeated it but they should stay vigilant against a resurgence of the terrorist outfit.

Iran sees Iraq's strength and peace as well as constructive ties with its neighbors as its own, Zarif said as he expressed Tehran's interest in boosting energy and trade relations with Baghdad.

His Iraqi counterpart said he discussed economic ties and religious tourism with Zarif.

After meetings in Baghdad, the FM is expected to head to Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region for talks with President Nechirvan Barzani and other local officials.

Ahead of his visit, Zarif told Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) that Iraq can play a role in maintaining security in the Persian Gulf.

Kadhimi will travel to Saudi Arabia and Iran back-to-back next week as Baghdad is working to find a balance in relations with its neighbors.

Commenting on the visit, former Iranian ambassador to Baghdad Hassan Danaifard said Iran is interested in strengthening relations with Iraq in various fields and is working to diversify them.

"We hope that these strong relations will continue to grow to reach the levels aspired by both countries.”

Iraq relies on Iran for trade and natural gas that generates as much as 45% of its electricity. Iran transmits another 1,200 megawatts directly, making itself an indispensable energy source for its neighbor, but the United States is trying to pry Baghdad away from Tehran’s orbit.

SS