It was reported that the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Saeed Khatibzadeh, arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday to hold several talks with Iraqi officials. Quoting from the spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Al Sahhaf, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported that Khatibzadeh’s visit came upon the invitation of his Iraqi counterpart. It also noted that the visit would take several days.
Following his arrival in Baghdad, Khatibzadeh came together with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. Iranian media reported that several issues, including the payment of Iraqi debts, the Shalamcheh-Basra railway, the latest situation in Baghdad’s lifting of the visa region were among the issues that had been held during the meeting.
The two diplomats discussed areas of cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the field of public diplomacy, the report added.
Prior to this meeting, the Iranian spokesperson held separate talks with Iraqi National Security Council Advisor Qasim Al Araji, former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki, President of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq Humam Hamoudi, and several Sunni clerics.
Khatibzadeh also addressed the Iraqi researchers and intellectuals regarding the latest regional developments and the relations between Iran and Iraq during his visit to Tamayouz Strategic Institute and the Al Nahrain Center for Strategic Studies.
It was also reported that the Iranian spokesperson reaffirmed his country’s support to Iraq, its government, and its people.
The Iranian diplomat’s visit came while the Iraq-brokered talks between Tehran and Riyadh are being conducted in a “positive atmosphere”. Last month, Khatibzadeh said that “We hope that the talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia will end successfully.”
In April, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif also visited Iraq, where he held talks with Iraqi officials as well as Shia and Sunni leaders.
