Iraqi official for expansion of Baghdad-Tehran ties

Tehran, Dec 31, IRNA - Visiting Iraqi Transportation Minister Baqer Al-Zubaidi called for expansion of mutual relations between Tehran and Baghdad here on Wednesday. Al-Zubaidi made the remarks in a meeting with Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani. Referring to the strategy of Iraqi new government for fostering all-out ties with neighboring countries, he added Baghdad is fully ready to cooperate with Tehran in road and rail transport projects. The Iraqi official underscored that expansion of mutual relations in transportation area is the key for fostering two countriesˈ economic cooperation. Shamkhani, for his part, said that economic cooperation is considered as the most important priority in relations between Tehran and Baghdad. Referring to the establishment of the new government in Baghdad and the growing trend of security in Iraq, Iranian official underscored that the two neighboring countries have focused on bilateral economic cooperation. Shamkhani also explored avenues for bolstering all-out ties in reconstructing the devastations caused by terrorist attacks as well as infrastructure, rail, land, aerial and marine transportation. Meanwhile, Shamkhani in a meeting with the visiting Iraqi Defense Minister Khalid Al-Obeidi here Tuesday stressed that all areas of Iraq will soon be cleared from terrorists. He said that not even an iota of Iraqi soil should be held by Takfiri terrorists, denouncing the unprecedented barbaric acts practiced against Iraqi Sunnis by terrorists./end