Zarif: Iran-Iraq Ties Benefit Region
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian minister of foreign affairs described strong bilateral ties between Iran and Iraq as beneficial to the Middle East region.
“Close relations between Iran and Iraq are not only in favor of the two nations, but also benefit the region," Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a meeting with the visiting head of Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council, Medhat al-Mahmoud, on Monday.
Zarif also underlined the significance of establishing “strategic ties” between the two neighboring countries. He said the reciprocal visits by the high-ranking Iranian and Iraqi delegations and an upward trend in the bilateral cooperation between Tehran and Baghdad clearly demonstrate 'their strong resolve' to expand ties.
Elsewhere in the meeting, the Iranian diplomat pointed to the troubles the Iranian inmates in Iraq are faced with, and called on the Iraqi Judiciary to step up efforts to settle those problems.
The Iraqi official, for his part, explained to Foreign Minister Zarif what measures Iraq has taken in regard with the judicial verdicts for the Iranian prisoners in the Arab country.
Back in April 2011, Iran and Iraq signed agreements on the extradition of criminals, including provisions for the repatriation of convicts to their country of origin.