Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Jaberi Ansari sat down with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri.

In the meeting held on Sunday, July 23, the two sides exchanged views on regional developments as well as issues that Iraq is facing at this juncture, especially the importance of maintaining the country’s territorial integrity, national solidarity and unity among different constituents of the Iraqi society.

The two sides highlighted the need for an all-out campaign against terrorism and extremism and stressed the significance of Iraq’s upcoming parliamentary elections.

In the meeting, Jaberi Ansari conveyed Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani’s warm greetings to his Iraqi counterpart, and invited him to attend the forthcoming swearing-in ceremony for Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

The top Iranian diplomat also presented a report on the meetings of the Iran-Iraq Joint Political Committee as well as the Legal-Technical Committee.

Al-Jabouri, in turn, offered his greetings to the Iranian parliament speaker and said he will accept Larijani’s invitation and take part in Rouhani’s swearing-in ceremony.

He also noted that the Iraqi government welcomes efforts by both countries to enhance mutual cooperation on all fronts and solve problems surrounding reciprocal ties.

Joint Political Committee’s Meeting

Jaberi Ansari, who is in Baghdad on a two-day visit, earlier on Sunday co-chaired a meeting of the Iran-Iraq Joint Political Committee along with his Iraqi counterpart Nizar Khairallah.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the issues of mutual interest within the framework of the Joint Political Committee.

At the beginning, the Iranian and Iraqi Chairs of the Joint Legal and Technical Committee gave a report on their meetings and existing agreements and disputes.

Then Jaberi Ansari and Khairallah expressed their views on the report and the methods to solve the existing disputes.

At the end of this part of the meeting, the two sides agreed to hold a sum-up session to review the remaining issues of the Legal and Technical Committee on Monday, July 24.

In the second part of the meeting, the parties discussed the process of mutual cooperation, especially in the economic area. They also exchanged views on the obstacles to expansion of bilateral economic ties.

Jaberi Ansari highlighted the need to resolve the problems of Iranian businessmen and companies and the need to introduce regulations to facilitate economic relations.

Issues related to strategic cooperation in the fields of energy and transportation, banking interactions, customs tariffs, dust pollution, and business and citizen visas were also reviewed. Preparing the grounds for Arba’een pilgrimage and also the exchange of prisoner were among the other issues discussed by the two sides.

The next meeting of the joint political committee will be held Sunday night in the form of a business dinner with the presence of Deputy Foreign Ministers of the two countries Jaberi Ansari and Khairallah. The parties will exchange views on political and regional issues.

During the meeting held on Saturday, the Iranian official congratulated the Iraqi foreign minister on the Arab country’s latest victories in fight against terrorism, including the liberation of Mosul.

The Islamic Republic of Iran continues to support the Iraqi government and nation in their struggle to establish stability and tranquillity in Iraq, Jaberi Ansari noted.

Jaafari, for his part, elaborated on the latest successes of Iraq as well as various aspects of expanded cooperation between Tehran and Baghdad.

He also stressed the need for further expansion of bilateral ties between the two sides.

Heading a high-ranking diplomatic delegation, Jaberi Ansari arrived in Iraq on Saturday to take part in a fresh round of Iran-Iraq Joint Political Commission’s meetings.