Tehran, July 07: Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi has reiterated Iran’s readiness to provide war-torn Iraq with more assistance for its reconstruction projects.
On Thursday, in a meeting with former Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jafari in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, Rahimi stressed the importance of adopting major measures to reconstruct Iraq and improve welfare in the Arab country.
He also said that Iran and Iraq enjoy great potentials which should be used to improve mutual relations, IRNA reported.
Unity and convergence between Iran and Iraq will lead to the formation of a big power which will magnetize other countries and nations, Rahimi said.
Today, the Iranian and Iraqi nations are by each other’s side and do not allow enemies to damage this unity, the Iranian vice president said.
Rahimi stressed that the measures should be taken to increase the activities of Iranian firms, economists and businessmen in Iraq.
“Iran and Iraq can promote mutual relations in various economic fields,” he concluded.
Rahimi arrived in Baghdad earlier on Wednesday at the head of a high-ranking politico-economic delegation on a six-day official visit.
Ahead of his trip to Iraq, Rahimi said Tehran is determined to expand trade interactions with Iraq to USD 20 billion and subsequently to USD 30 billion in two future phases, given the potential of the two countries.
On Wednesday, the Iranian first vice president also held talks with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Parliament Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, and Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari and discussed ways to expand mutual ties as well as the latest regional and international developments.
—Agencies