Iranian FM meets top Iraqi officials in Baghdad, expected to visit Erbil

The Iranian official said that Iraqi-Iranian relations “will not be shaken.”

Mohammed Kerim 2020/07/19 14:52

Kurdistan Iraq Iran Tehran US Baghdad Erbil

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived on Sunday in Baghdad to meet senior Iraqi officials there, at the start of a visit that includes the Kurdistan Region later in the day.

In the capital, Zarif held a series of meetings, beginning with his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein. He also held discussions with Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and was expected to meet President Barham Salih and Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi.

The Iraqi foreign minister said during a joint press briefing that Kadhimi would visit Tehran "soon," but did not specify. One informed source told Kurdistan 24 that the trip would take place next Tuesday and noted that Kadhimi would also go to Saudi Arabia and the United States "in the coming period."

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Hussein called for cooling of regional tensions and "the protection of [Iraq's] sovereignty," reiterating Baghdad's position that it wants balanced relations with neighboring states.

From his end, Zarif said that Iraqi-Iranian relations "will not be shaken," adding, "we have good relations with Iraq on energy, and they will continue." Iraq imports hydrocarbons it uses to power its electric grid from Iran.

Zarif also visited the site where Iranian military commander Qasim Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed in a US drone strike in early January.

The Iranian foreign minister claimed that the killing of the two generals had "complicated the fight against ISIS."

Meeting Kadhimi

Kadhimi and Zarif discussed "bilateral relations and issues of common concern in various fields," read a statement issued by the premier's office.

Zarif conveyed to Kadhimi, "Iran's interest at the highest levels in the upcoming visit of his excellency to Iran, to start a new stage of cooperation between the two countries," the statement added.

Kadhimi stressed the importance of "joint work" to ensure security and stability in the region. He added that "Iraq seeks to assert its balanced and positive role in making peace and progress in the region, in a way that reflects positively on all its people with more stability, prosperity, and sustainable development."

For his part, Zarif pointed out that Iran is looking forward to a "new and positive" stage of relations with Iraq and desires agreements between the two countries in various sectors.

A source explained to Kurdistan 24 that the top Iranian diplomat would also hold meetings with several Iraqi political party leaders, the head of the Popular Mobilization Committee (PMC), as well as the chief of the Higher Judicial Council (HJC).

This marks the first visit by a senior Iranian official to Baghdad since the new prime minister was voted into office. Zarif will visit the Kurdistan Region later Sunday and meet top Kurdish officials, including the President Nechirvan Barzani.