Iran, Iraq discuss economic relations during PM visit
Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi says he discussed "financial and monetary relations" with visiting Prime Minister of Iraq Mustafa al-Kadhemi, during a joint press conference following their meeting in Tehran.
Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi met Iran's recently-elected President Ebrahim Raisi on Sunday to discuss the neighbors’ economic relations.
Kadhemi is the first foreign leader to visit Raisi, and he brought along a "high level political and economic delegation", Iran's official IRNA news agency said.
Kadhemi told joint news conference that the pair "discussed certain joint economic questions and strategic projects" as well as "increasing trade in the interests of both nations".
Raisi, who took office last month, said that "financial and monetary relations" were also discussed.
An Iraqi source had said Friday that Kadhemi would raise energy cooperation and Iranian-Saudi relations in Tehran.
Other hot topics include Iraq's six-billion-dollar debt to Iran, after shortages pushed it to turn to its neighbor to cover one-third of its gas and electricity needs.
Meanwhile "the Iraqi prime minister gave us good news about visa exemptions" for Iranians, Raisi said.
Baghdad would "increase as much as possible" the number able to participate in the Arbaeen pilgrimage in the Shiite shrine city of Karbala later this month, the Iranian leader added.
Kadhemi's office had last week announced up to 60,000 Iranians would be able to come.
Arbaeen marks the end of the 40-day mourning period for the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Mohammed in 680 AD.
