Iraq's Prime Minister
Adil Abd al-Mahdi received on Monday Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in
Baghdad, during the latter's official 3-day visit to Iraq.
During the meeting, they
discussed efforts to enhance cooperation between Iraq and Iran in counter-terrorism
field, besides cooperation in economic and trade fields, Abd al-Mahdi's office
said in a statement.
Abd al-Mahdi expressed hope that the visit of Rouhani and his
accompanying delegation will help develop relations between the two countries
and their two peoples in various fields, and enhance security and stability of
the peoples of the region.
رئيس مجلس الوزراء السيد عادل عبد المهدي يُعرب عن ترحيبه برئيس جمهورية ايران الاسلامية الدكتور حسن روحاني والوفد المرافق الكبير له ، وتطلعه في ان تسهم الزيارة بتطوير العلاقات بين البلدين والشعبين الجارين في جميع المجالات وتعزيز الأمن والاستقرار والازدهار لجميع شعوب المنطقة . pic.twitter.com/t9loV3Fmh6
— المكتب الاعلامي لرئيس الوزراء (@IraqiPMO) March 11, 2019
Iraqi President Barham Salih earlier confirmed that Rouhani's visit aims to improve relations. Iran is Iraq's largest economic trading partner, the National reported.
"Let me tell you that Iraq will not become part of the U.S. unilateral sanctions regime against Iran," Salih said. "There is no doubt that we will be affected by these sanctions, but it is certain that we will not be part of them."
Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the visit will help improve relations between the two nations that have long had an adversarial relationship, including a war between 1980 and 1988.
