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Relationship with Tehran is in Baghdad’s interest: President Salih

SHAFAQNA- Iraqi President Barham Salih stressed importance of the upcoming visit by his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani to Baghdad, saying that it is in Baghdad’s interest to continue the relationship with Tehran.

“Of course, President Rouhani’s trip to Baghdad will be an important one,” Salih said in an interview with a local Arabic-language media outlet, Tasnim News Agency reported.

Asked about Iraq’s position on dialogue between Iran and Saudi Arabia, he said, “I made a visit to Tehran, during which I had deep discussions with Iranian leaders, and many of these cases were dealt with.”

“Our relations with Iran are important,” he said, adding, “In all countries that I have traveled to, I have said that having good relations with Iran is in Iraq’s interest.”

It is in Baghdad’s interest to continue the relationship with Tehran and make it a basis for its regional relations, he added.

Heading a high-ranking delegation, the Iranian president will visit the Arab country at the official invitation of Baghdad on March 11.

It will be Rouhani’s first official visit to Iraq during his tenure.

The Iranian president’s visit would come against the backdrop of Tehran’s efforts to boost its foreign trade in the US sanctions era.

Iraq’s Foreign Ministry said recently that the country is “not obliged” to abide by sanctions imposed by the US against Iran and would be pursuing options to continue bilateral trade.

Salih paid a visit to Tehran in November 2018 with a ranking delegation for a series of political and economic talks.

Washington, however, is wary of Baghdad’s close relations with Tehran. In November, the US government gave Iraq 45 days to stop purchasing natural gas from Iran.

The Iraqis dismissed the demand, with a government official warning that any halt to the supplies would create a real power crisis in Iraq.

“Stopping Iranian gas after the deadline will create a real power crisis. We need more time … the Americans are completely aware of how desperately we need Iranian gas,” the official was quoted as saying at the time.

The port of Basra in southern Iraq was hit by violent protests, which spread to other cities this summer, partly because of a halt of imports of electricity from Iran.

During his Iran visit, Salih said there is need for a new order based on political congruity and cooperation in the region, under which the independence and sovereignty of nations is respected.

Tehran and Baghdad have shared a unique alliance since the ouster of the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003, Iran Daily reported.

 

Read more from Shafaqna:

Rouhani to visit Iraq for the first time

Iraq’s Halabja Iran’s Kermanshah agree on boosting mutual ties

Iraqi PM: Baghdad won’t be part of US sanctions on Iran

 

 

 

 

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