Zarif: Iran Open to Regional Cooperation, Collective Dialogue

In an interview with Al Forat television network during a visit to Iraq, Zarif expressed Iran’s readiness to launch constructive dialogue with regional nations.

Asked about the idea proposed by Leader of Iraq’s National Wisdom Movement Seyed Ammar al-Hakim about regional talks involving Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Zarif said Iran welcomes any initiative for regional cooperation.

“We have a principle that regional cooperation must be inclusive and not against anybody. All countries in our region, namely the Persian Gulf states and other regional countries near us like Iraq, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan, should be part of such cooperation,” he added.

Welcoming the idea of formation of regional cooperation with all those states, Zarif underlined that such joint efforts should be a prelude to an inclusive from of cooperation with the presence of all countries.

Asked about the topics to be discussed during Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s upcoming trip to Iraq, Zarif said the first priority of the visit is to strengthen relations between Tehran and Baghdad.

The Iranian foreign minister noted that discussions will be held during the presidential visit to boost interaction in the economic sector, transportation, railroad industry, oil industry, establishment of joint industrial districts, demarcation of common border, and dredging Arvand Rud border river.

The Iranian president is planned to travel to Iraq on March 11 for an official visit.

Heading a high-ranking delegation, he will be visiting the Arab country at the official invitation of Baghdad.

It will be Rouhani’s first official visit to Iraq during his tenure.

Last week, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met with Prime Minister of Iraq Adil Abdul-Mahdi in Baghdad to make arrangements for Rouhani’s trip.

The Iranian president’s visit would come against the backdrop of Tehran’s efforts to boost its foreign trade in the US sanctions era.

Iraq’s foreign minister said recently that his country is “not obliged” to abide by sanctions imposed by the US against Iran and would be pursuing options to continue bilateral trade.

President of Iraq Barham Salih made a visit to Tehran in November 2018 with a ranking delegation for a series of political and economic talks.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart at that time, Rouhani said the value of trade and economic interaction between Tehran and Baghdad stood at around $12 billion, adding that the two neighbors have the potential for a $20-billion trade target.

Last month, governors of the central banks of Iran and Iraq signed an agreement to develop a payment mechanism aimed at facilitating banking ties between the two neighboring countries.

According to governor of the Central Bank of Iran Abdolnaser Hemmati, Iran is going to open euro and dinar-based accounts to process transactions for trade in oil and gas.

Describing Iraq as Iran’s major partner, Hemmati said the two countries have agreed to make the banking ties much stronger.

He also stated that Iraqi companies can reciprocally open accounts in Iranian banks and conduct transactions in dinar.