TEHRAN, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi wrapped up his visit to Iran on Wednesday while Tehran and Baghdad agreed to boost comprehensive cooperation and vowed to honor the independence and sovereignty of each other.
"What is of great importance to the Islamic republic in its bilateral relations with Iraq are the interests, security, dignity, and regional authority of Iraq in addition to the improvement of situation in Iraq," Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said during a meeting with Al-Kadhimi on Tuesday.
"Iran has never wanted and will never interfere in the internal affairs of Iraq," Khamenei said, according to his official website, adding "Iran favors a dignified and independent Iraq with its territorial integrity, unity and domestic solidarity."
The Iranian top leader urged expansion of ties in all fields, saying "one should not be afraid of the Americans by any means."
For his part, Al-Kadhimi expressed gratitude to Iran for its supports for Iraq in the fight against terrorists.
Iran and Iraq have agreed on a target plan to increase bilateral trade value to 20 billion U.S. dollars in near future.
In a joint press conference on Tuesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the two sides are determined to implement their earlier agreements, particularly connecting the Iranian Shalamcheh to the Iraqi Basra city via railway.
"The foreign forces will not be able to cause any harm and disruption to the brotherly relations between the two old neighbors," he pointed out.
For his part, Al-Kadhimi said that Iran and Iraq need cooperation and coordination in the face of challenges, like the spread of COVID-19 pandemic and the fall in the crude oil prices.
He said that his government will not allow the Iraqi soil to be used as a platform for threats to Iran.
Al-Kadhimi pointed out that Iraq has turned into a big market for Iranian products and his country will also help Iran overcome its economic challenges.
Besides, Iranian first Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri said "the Joint Economic Commission of Iran and Iraq is prepared to draft the comprehensive document on economic and trade cooperation between the two countries."
Strong banking and financial ties are prerequisite for the enhancement of economic relations, he noted, calling for plans to accelerate the implementation of banking agreements.
The bulk of problems that have gripped the regional countries are caused by the outsiders, he said, calling for concerted efforts to overcome the challenges that have been aggravated by the outbreak of novel coronavirus and a decline in the oil prices.
For his part, al-Kadhimi said Baghdad is willing to establish broad relations with Tehran considering their historical, cultural and religious commonalities.
Iran and Iraq agreed on two cooperation documents in the electricity sector during the Iraqi prime minister's visit to Tehran.
Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian said that the two sides agreed to finalize and sign the contracts, one of which would entail plans to reduce electricity losses in distribution networks in Iraq's governorates of Karbala and Najaf, and the second one is a contract to make repairs to electricity distribution transformers in Iraq. Enditem
