Iran FM sets stage for high-profile President's visit to Iraq

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reached Iraq on Saturday (local time) ahead of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani official visit starting Monday. Rouhani is scheduled to meet with his Iraqi counterpart Barham Salih along with other top political and religious leaders during his official visit, reports Xinhua.

Furthermore, he is also slated to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi and Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi. "Rouhani's trip to Baghdad is a historic visit and good opportunity for achieving serious Memoranda of Understanding between the two countries," IRNA quoted Zarif as saying.

Quoting sources, Xinhua reported that Rouhani is undertaking the visit at the invitation of Salih. The two sides will discuss political and economic cooperation across fields like energy and transit amongst others during the high-level visit.

Meanwhile, Zarif stressed that "no country has the right to interfere in the two countries' ties." "Iran and Iraq are the two neighbouring states with numerous geographical, cultural and social commonalities," he added. The Iranian President's visit comes amidst the United States exerting pressure on the middle-eastern country through sanctions on its oil.

(With inputs from agencies.)