TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian President’s Chief of Staff Mahmoud Vaezi referred to Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s recent visit to Tehran, saying that Baghdad is determined to further broaden relations and cooperation with Iran in all fields.
“Iraq is determined to broaden its ties with Iran in all dimensions. In addition, Iraqi side is interested in acceleration of agreements which have previously been inked between presidents of the two countries both in Tehran and Baghdad,” Vaezi said on Wednesday.
He emphasized that $20 billion worth of annual bilateral trade has been targeted between Iran and Iraq.
Iran was of the first countries that faced the coronavirus global pandemic and have thus far gained salient experiences and achievements in this respect, he said, adding, “The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to share its experience with neighboring Iraq in the fight against coronavirus.”
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi agreed to form a special committee to seriously pursue implementation of agreements signed by the two neighboring states.
The agreement was made during the Tuesday evening meeting between the two high-ranking officials in Tehran.
In the meeting President Rouhani said that the foreign powers cannot disrupt the brotherly relations of the two old neighbors.
“The concern and interest of the two nations and governments of Iran and Iraq towards their fates is a great asset on the path of all-out development of their relations,” the Iranian president added.
He said that Iran and Iraq share numerous commonalities in cultural, religious, historical and political fields and the seminaries of Qom and Najaf are regarded as two great assets of Iran and Iraq.
Rouhani said that Iran and Iraq can pass through the difficult situation created by the deadly coronavirus, noting that the two countries should accelerate implementation of all the existing agreements through widespread cooperation.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran firmly supports the determining role played by Iraq as a powerful Muslim and Arab country in the region in line with restoring peace and stability,” the Iranian president added.
Al-Kadhimi, for his part, described relations between Iran and Iraq beyond the ordinary ties between two neighboring states, and said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Iraq enjoy strategic relations and the deep affection of both countries’ people to each other is a strong backup for these strategic relations.
