Iran: Iraqi Prime Minister in Tehran to talk about economy and security

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazimi, left, and Iranian President Ebrahim Raïssi, right, September 12, 2021 in Tehran.

AP

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Iraqi Prime Minister Moustafa al-Kazimi met Iranian President Ebrahim Raïssi for the first time on Sunday, September 12, to discuss in particular bilateral economic relations between the two countries, but also security issues.

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With our correspondent in Tehran,

Siavosh Ghazi

Mustafa al-Kazimi

came to Iran at the head of a large economic and political delegation.

The two countries insisted on the development of economic and trade relations.

Iranian President

Ebrahim Raissi

has announced the upcoming cancellation of visas for nationals of the two countries.

He also demanded the repayment of the Iraqi debt to Iran.

The economies of the two predominantly Shiite countries are strongly linked.

Iran exports electricity, gas, gasoline, but also many products to Iraq.

Baghdad owes some 6 billion dollars to Tehran, which has a strong political influence in the country through in particular

the Hachd al-Chaabi group

, a coalition of armed groups integrated within the Iraqi army.

On the security front, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, also received the Iraqi Prime Minister.

He called for action by the Iraqi authorities against Iranian Kurdish groups based in Iraqi Kurdistan, who are carrying out actions against Iran.

Finally, Baghdad also acts as mediator between Iran and Saudi Arabia in an attempt to appease relations between the two regional powers.

Three rounds of talks have already taken place between the two countries in Baghdad.

And according to the Iranian ambassador to Iraq, a fourth round of talks is planned soon in the Iraqi capital.

رئيس مجلس الوزراء @MAKadhimi يلتقي النائب الأول لرئيس الجمهورية الإسلامية الإيرانية السيد محمد مخبر, وذلك في إطار زيارته الرسمية الحالية إلى ايران, وأكد سيادته أهمية تنمية سبل التعاون الثنائي بين بغداد وطهران;

لتشمل مجالات أوسع ، وبما يعزز مصالح شعبي البلدين.

pic.twitter.com/yJHT5WACxc

- المكتب الإعلامي لرئيس الوزراء 🇮🇶 (@IraqiPMO) September 12, 2021

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  • Iran

  • Iraq

  • Ebrahim Raisi

  • Mustafa al-Kazimi

  • Diplomacy