Iraq Relations" title="Parliament Speaker Urges Expansion of Iran-Iraq Relations" src="https://armaneghtesadi.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/13961008000249_Test_PhotoI.jpg" />
TEHRAN (ECOIDEAL)- Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani in a meeting with Iraqi Minister of Youth and Sports Abdul-Hussein Abdul Redha Abtaan in Tehran underlined the need for enhancing mutual cooperation between Iran and Baghdad in all fields.
"Tehran-Baghdad relations should not be confined to security issues; rather development of economic and social relations is essential," Larijani said during the meeting in the Iranian capital on Thursday.
The Iranian parliament speaker said that forging political consensus is one of the substantial issues in Iraq to prevent other countries’ adventurism.
Larijani called for promoting sports and social ties between Iran and Iraq, and hailed Iraq’s achievements in the field of sports in recent years.
"Fortunately, the Iraqi nation powerfully achieved strategic victories against Daesh (the ISIL) in which the country’s armed forces, particularly Popular Mobilization Forces played a crucial role,” he said.
Abtaan, for his part, appreciated Iran’s supports to his country, and said that its positive approach in support of Iraq paved the way for victory over the ISIL terrorists.
In relevant remarks in early January, a senior Iraqi energy official said that Tehran and Baghdad are in talks to strike deals regarding development of two joint oilfields.
Deputy Petroleum Minister in International Affairs and Trading Amir Hossein Zamaninia said during a recent visit of an Iranian delegation to neighboring Iraq, the two sides discussed avenues for establishing oil ties and cooperation for development of joint oil fields.
The Iranian delegation, headed by Zamaninia, comprised representatives of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), Iranian Oil Pipeline and Telecommunication Company (IOPTC).
One of the deals will concern development of Parviz and Khorramshahr joint oilfields, said Zamaninia.
The other memorandum of understanding (MoU), he said, will be about cooperation in other oil-related areas like manufacture of items, gas export, and renovation of Iraqi refineries by Iranian private contractors.
"Iran is now ready to export gas to Iraq and Baghdad is also ready to receive the item," the official said.
He said the gas export pipeline to Iraq from Iran is now filled with gas but the required LCs for sending the item to Iraq is not ready yet. "Gas flow to Iraq will begin as soon as financial issues are resolved."
The energy official said the LC will open parallel with the Iraqi delegation's visit to Tehran in the near future.
Source: Farsnews