Iraq’s leaders asserted yesterday 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, Mohamed Javad Zarif, arrived in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, earlier in the day on an official visit, the first since a US air strike 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 United States.
“We want balanced relations with all neighbouring countries based on the Iraqi national interest and non-interference in internal affairs,” Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein told a press conference following his meeting with Zarif.
He added that Baghdad is working on keeping the region and the country 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 co-operates 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 in various fields and jointly work to support the security and stability of the region.
Hours after Zarif’s arrival, three mortar shells struck Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, home to foreign embassies and government offices, Iraq’s Joint Operations Command said.
One of the mortars did not explode, it said in a statement carried by official Iraqi News Agency, adding that the groups behind the attack wanted to weaken the state.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif, wearing protective masks, attend a meeting in Baghdad, yesterday.
