Iraqi PM to visit Ankara, Tehran within days

TEHRAN, Aug. 12 (MNA) – Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi will visit Iran and Turkey in the coming days. Al-Mayadeen reported late Sunday that Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi will start a two-country tour to Tehran and Ankara on Monday. Meanwhile, an Iraqi official told French AFP news agency that al-Abadi will visit Tehran and Ankara in the coming week. But, the Iraqi official said that al-Abadi will depart for Turkey on Tuesday, followed by his visit to Iran on Wednesday with economic issues on his agenda. The Iraqi prime minister has reluctantly agreed to abide by the US sanctions against Iran. At the same time, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi was quoted by Fars News Agency yesterday afternoon that Tehran had not received any prior notification or witnessed an official announcement on al-Abadi’s visit, while Iraqi Alghad Press quoted an Iraqi source familiar with the matter that the Iraqi prime minister would visit Tehran in the coming days to discuss political issues.