Relations of Iran, Iraqi Kurdistan Province to expand

Mahabad, Nov 1, IRNA – Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan Province relations are to expand, Iranian Parliamentarian Jalal Mahmoudzadeh said here Monday. Referring to the recent meeting between the head of Provincial Iraqi Kurdish Government Massoud Barzani and Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, the Mahabad representative at Majlis added that Iraqi Kurdistan Provincial Government is keen to expand bilateral relations with Tehran. “The two sides discussed required preparations for the presence of the Iranian companies in Iraqi Kurdistan Province,” the MP stated. Mahabad's representative pointed to the presence of the Iranian Kurdish regions’ representatives in the meeting between Barzani and Larijani, adding that the head of the Provincial Iraqi Kurdish Government invited the Iranian Kurdish regions’ MPs to visit the Iraqi Kurdistan Province. “Development of cooperation in the filed of security was also one of the most important issues discussed between Larijani and Barzani,” said Mahmoudzadeh. Some Iraqi ministers and governors were also present at the meeting as well as six members of Iran’s Parliament, Kurdish Fraction. Barzani in his recent visit to Tehran held a meeting with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in which they called for closer cooperation between the two countries. Barzani also met with Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Sa'eid Jalili. Barzani arrived in Tehran for an official three-day visit on October 29, at the head of a high-ranking delegation, to discuss regional developments with the high-ranking Iranian officials./end