Iran FM in Baghdad to boost bilateral ties

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday arrived in Baghdad on an official visit aimed at boosting bilateral relations.

"Iraq is looking forward to strengthening relations and achieving common interests between Iraq and the Islamic Republic," Iraq's Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said at a televised joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart in Baghdad.

Jaafari said that the two sides have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning diplomatic and special passports.

He confirmed that Iraq has adopted the policy of openness with the world countries, and "is looking each world state in accordance with its position toward terrorism."

Jaafari also said that Iraq is committed to the policy of distancing itself from the "axis of conflict in the world," in order to keep good relations with all countries, regardless of the nature of their relations between each other.

For his part, Zarif said that "we are facing common threats (terrorism) in the region and we need cooperation, solidarity and concerted efforts and move by all the region's countries to counter the threats."

Earlier in the day, the Iranian minister arrived in Baghdad after he paid a visit to the holy Shiite shrines in Najaf and Karbala in southern Baghdad.

Iran has played an important role in Iraq's reconstruction after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, and the volume of trade between Iran and Iraq reached 12 billion U.S. dollars in 2013 in different areas, mainly in the construction, food and industrial sectors.

Relations between the Shiite Muslim country of Iran and the Shiite-dominated government of Iraq have been picked up considerably since Saddam Hussein's Sunni-dominated regime was ousted in a U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

Iraq and Iran fought a bloody eight-year war in 1980s, resulting in the loss of one million lives. Endit