Rouhani calls for resumption of cross-border trade with Iraq
Rouhani calls for resumption of cross-border trade with Iraq
President Hassan Rouhani on Monday called for the resumption of cross-border trade exchanges with Iraq while observing the health regulations.

TEHRAN (Iran News) – President Hassan Rouhani on Monday called for the resumption of cross-border trade exchanges with Iraq while observing the health regulations following a hiatus in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Iran and Iraq “must try to restore the trade exchanges to the previous course in full conformity with the health instructions along the entire borders,” Rouhani told his Iraqi counterpart, Barham Salih, in a telephone conversation Tasnim News Agency reported.

Rouhani also expressed hope that the joint plans by the two neighboring countries would raise the level of bilateral economic ties.

He gave assurances that Iran’s principled policy entails the enhancement of cooperation and relations with Iraq in all fields.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will stand by the Iraqi government and nation like the past, and calls for the protection of Iraq’s sovereignty and non-interference from foreign powers in the fate of (Iraq’s) nation and government,” Rouhani said.

Congratulating his Iraqi counterpart in advance on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, Rouhani expressed satisfaction with the fact that the political processes in Iraq have yielded positive results, all Iraqi groups and tribes have joined hands, and the new Iraqi government has been formed after being approved by Parliament.

“Political stability in Iraq is important for the region, and this process will be surely a prelude to the restoration of Iraq’s prominent role in the region,” the Iranian president said.

The region is currently struggling with a host of problems, such as plummeting oil prices, the coronavirus pandemic, security challenges, and, above all, US interference in the internal affairs of the countries, he said.

“The promotion of relations and cooperation between the friendly governments and nations in all fields could help overcome the problems.”

For his part, the Iraqi president tendered congratulations on Eid al-Fitr, hailed the level of ties between Baghdad and Tehran, and stressed the need for the officials of the two countries to push for the expansion of relations in various fields.

Highlighting the significance of bilateral political relations, Salih said, “Stability and security in Iraq require cooperation from the friendly and neighboring states, particularly the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Salih pointed to the political efforts and activities for bringing various Iraqi groups, parties, and tribes together to elect a new prime minister.

“Ensuring Iraq’s sovereignty and supremacy is an undeniable necessity that must be recognized in making decisions about the future of this country.”

“Foreign powers must not interfere in deciding the fate of this country,” the Iraqi president underlined.

Deploring the destructive acts of interference from the outsiders in the region, he said, “The Middle East region cannot withstand new crises so that the interference from the aliens in the region must end immediately.”

Iraq’s new Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi took office on May 6 after the Iraqi Parliament approved a new government following nearly six months of political wrangling.

  • source : Iran Daily, Irannews