Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi began his talks with Iranian leaders shortly after his arrival in Tehran this afternoon at the head of a high-ranking delegation on his first official visit abroad since he took office in May. Al-Kazemi’s arrival in Tehran comes a day after his visit to Saudi Arabia was postponed due to a health symptom that paints King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
Al-Kazemi, who was received by senior Iranian officials at Mehrabad Airport, met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the International Conference Complex in Tehran.
Al-Kazimi said during a joint press conference with Rouhani that the region faces challenges in the region, and coordination between the two countries should be in service to their interests, and he stressed the importance of developing relations between the two countries on the principle of non-interference in internal affairs.
Al-Kazimi indicated that Iraq will not forget Iran's position by supporting it during the war against the Islamic State.
For his part, Rouhani pledged support to Iraq in combating the Corona virus and providing it with all the medical equipment and equipment it needs, and stressed that there is a will on both countries to raise trade exchange to 20 billion dollars, and complete work on linking the railways between the two countries.
Rouhani also stressed his country's readiness to stand with the Iraqi people to establish stability and security in Iraq and the region.
Al-Kazemi is scheduled to meet later with Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Al-Kazemi is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes the ministers of foreign affairs, oil, electricity, finance, defense, health, and the Iraqi national security advisor.
The agenda of Al-Kazemi’s visit to Tehran includes touching on Iraq’s energy and electricity debts, which are estimated at about $ 3 billion, and during the visit, a timetable will be made to pay it, and expedite the reopening of the borders to the movement of goods and goods after a closure that lasted for several months in the framework of anti-Corona measures.
The Iraqi Prime Minister was scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, the regional opponent of Iran, before heading to Tehran, but the visit was postponed because King Salman bin Abdulaziz was hospitalized.
The two visits were supposed to take place according to a succession that would guarantee the Iraqi Prime Minister to play a balanced role that would allow him to perform potential mediation between Riyadh and Tehran.
Before his visit, Al-Kazemi received in Baghdad on Sunday, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif.
The region is witnessing worsening tension, with Saudi Arabia and its American ally on the one hand, and on the other hand, Iran, which is accused - among other things - of wanting to extend its influence in the region.
Iraq is frequently the scene of tension between Iran and the United States, and both have close ties with Baghdad.
Al-Kazemi took over as prime minister in May after nearly 4 years as head of Iraqi intelligence, and it is rumored that he is appreciated by Iranian intelligence services and government departments in Tehran, as well as by Washington, which he is scheduled to visit by early August to continue the strategic dialogue between Iraq and the states The United which has troops in this country.