Foreign
Iraq’s leaders asserted on Sunday that Baghdad seeks to build balanced ties with its neighbours and rejects intervention in its internal affairs, as they met with Iran’s foreign minister.
Iran’s top diplomat, Mohammad Javad Zarif, arrived in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, earlier in the day on an official visit, the first since a U.S. airstrike outside Baghdad airport killed Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian commander, in January.
The visit also comes ahead of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s planned tour that will take him to Iran, Saudi Arabia and the U.S.
“We want balanced relations with all neighbouring countries based on the Iraqi national interest and non-interference in internal affairs,’’ Iraqi Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein, told a press conference following his meeting with Zarif.
He added that Baghdad is working on keeping the region and Iraq away from international tensions and protecting Iraqi sovereignty.
Zarif, for his part, said his country welcomes Iraq’s role in the Gulf region and building bilateral relations in the framework of non-interference in internal affairs.
He also called for building relations in the field of energy and expanding trade ties.
Iraqi President Barham Salih also asserted during his meeting with Zarif that the region needs balanced relations, joint understanding and clear vision to reach solutions to crises and tensions.
“Iraq is keen on protecting its sovereignty, security and stability and cooperates with allies and friends in the framework of mutual respect and non-intervention in internal affairs,’’ he said.
Al-Kadhimi said during his meeting with the top Iranian diplomat that his country seeks to “assert its balanced and positive role in making peace and achieving progress in the region’’.
He stressed the need to boost bilateral relations between Iraq and Iran in various fields and jointly work to support the security and stability of the region. (dpa/NAN)
– Jul, 19 2020 @ 01:16 GMT |
Tags: Iraq urges balanced ties non-interference as Iran’s Zarif visits
