Today, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi continues his visit to Iran, which he started yesterday, and this morning he met the head of the Islamic Shura Council (Parliament) Muhammad Baqer Qalibaf.
The media office of the Iraqi Prime Minister stated - in a statement - that Al-Kazemi discussed with Qalibaf the enhancement of cooperation between the two countries in various fields, in addition to dealing with the overall bilateral and regional conditions and their effects on Iraq and Iran.
Al-Kazemi met yesterday with the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. During the meeting, Khamenei said that Iran has not and will not interfere in Iraqi affairs, and that it supports a sovereign Iraq and defends its independence and territorial integrity.
He added that his country opposes everything that could weaken the Iraqi government, stressing that Tehran does not interfere in Iraq’s relationship with the United States.
Khamenei assured Al-Kazemi that Iran expects the government, parliament and the Iraqi people to continue their moves to remove American forces from Iraq, because it is the main cause of insecurity and instability.
The guide stated that Washington assassinated the former commander of the Iranian Quds Force Qassem Soleimani early this year while he was a guest in Iraq. "This is not a passing, simple issue," he said, noting that Iran will not forget that, and that America will continue to receive strikes in retaliation for this assassination.
Rouhani's meeting
Al-Kazemi said - in a press conference yesterday with Rouhani - that "our policy is based on goodwill in dealing with neighbors, and an understanding to get the region out of the crisis of tensions, and comprehensive work to reach a comprehensive solution to all challenges."
He added, "Our foreign relations depend on the principle of balance and staying away from any axis, and for this reason Iraq will not allow any threat to Iranian lands to be launched from its territories."
Al-Kazimi added that Iraq and Iran face the challenges of the Coruna virus and the drop in oil prices. Which necessitates coordination in accordance with the interests of the two countries, and 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 fighting the Corona virus, and providing him with all the medical equipment and equipment he needed, and stressed that there is a will on both countries to raise trade exchange to 20 billion dollars, and complete work on linking 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, stressing that Iraq is an important Arab country, and it can play a central role in this regard.
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.
Al-Kazemi was due to visit Saudi Arabia, the regional opponent of Iran, on Monday before heading to Tehran, but the visit was postponed because King Salman bin Abdulaziz was hospitalized.
The visits were supposed to take place according to a succession ensuring that Al-Kazemi played a balanced role that would allow him to play a possible mediation between Riyadh and Tehran.
Before his visit, Al-Kazimi received in Baghdad last Sunday the Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif.
The region is witnessing worsening tension, with its Saudi parties 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 a frequent site of tension between Iran and the United States, and both have close ties with Baghdad.
Al-Kazemi took the post of prime minister last May after nearly 4 years in which he worked as head of Iraqi intelligence, and it is rumored that he is appreciated by Iranian intelligence services, as well as by Washington, which he is scheduled to visit by early August to continue the strategic dialogue between the two countries.