Speaker:

Iran, Iraq Naturally Bound

Rasa - Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani hailed the strong ties between Tehran and Baghdad, and asserted that Iran and Iraq are naturally connected to each other in a way that efforts made by all others to separate the two countries are assuredly ineffective.

News ID: 441605

Date: 19 November 2018 - 10:48

RNA - Larijani made the remarks on Saturday afternoon in a meeting with the visiting Iraqi President Barham Salih and his accompanying delegation in Tehran.

“Iran and Iraq are two countries that are naturally connected and others should not make futile efforts to separate us,” asserted the top lawmaker.

The Iraqi president, for his part, hailed 'the outstanding' relations with Iran, adding that Iran-Iraq ties provide a solid basis for strengthening cooperation in the whole region.

In a related front, earlier in October, President Salih voiced his country's willingness to broaden bilateral relations with Iran in different fields, and said it is in Baghdad's best interests to have friendly and stable ties with Iran.

"Iran is a neighboring country and our interest lies in having good and stable relations with Iran,” Barham Salih told reporters during a visit to Kuwait.

The Iraqi president pointed to age-old relations between Baghdad and Tehran, and said, "There are vast areas that the two countries can increase their cooperation."

According to Fars News Agancy, Iran is currently Iraq's top trade partner, with an annual turnover standing at about $12 billion.

Foodstuff, livestock, construction materials and plastic products constitute the bulk of Iran’s exports to Iraq where Iranian vehicles and food data-x-items are a ubiquitous sight.

Iran and Iraq have also been exchanging oil through a swap deal under which crude from the Kirkuk field in northern Iraq is shipped by truck to Iran, which uses it in its refineries and delivers the same amount of oil to Iraq’s southern ports.

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