Iran’s president arrives in Iraq on 3-day visit

SANAA, March 11 (YPA) – Iranian President Hassan Rowhani arrived in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Monday for a three-day official visit.

“President Hassan Rouhani had arrived in Baghdad on Monday morning, headed by a high-level political and economic delegation,” the official IRNA news agency said.

He said that the visit is in response to a formal invitation from his Iraqi counterpart Barham Saleh and Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi.

“Tehran’s aim is to expand relations with Baghdad and increase trade between the two countries, ahead of an official visit to Iraq,” Rowhani said in a statement quoted by Fars agency from Mehrabad International Airport before leaving for Baghdad.

“We stood by the people and the Iraqi government and we are still. Our aim is to expand relations with Baghdad. Trade with Iraq should rise from 12 to 20 billion dollars, ” he added.

E.M