TEHRAN -- Parliament Speaker Muhammad Bagher Ghalibaf said here Monday Iran and Iraq are determined to continue their support for the resistance front in defending Islam and the dignity of the Islamic Ummah.
“We are also looking to enhance political and economic relations, which will be instrumental in establishing regional peace and stability among Arab and non-Arab Muslim countries,” he said in a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Mahmoud al-Mashhadani.
Ghalibaf said the parliaments of the two countries are working on several key areas, including the development of the Khorramshahr-Basra railway, the management of shared rivers, scientific, knowledge-based, and academic relations, the promotion of pilgrimage and tourism, and border security agreements.
Emphasizing the importance of enhancing economic relations, Ghalibaf noted that Iran is pursuing the development of ties with neighboring countries.
He said the two nations, parliaments and governments are working closely to improve regional and international cooperation. He praised Iran’s “very deep” relations with Iraq in religious, cultural, social, political, economic, security and defense sectors.
Ghalibaf said both Tehran and Baghdad place a premium on increasing parliamentary relations with the purpose of boosting economic cooperation.
He urged the Iranian and Iraqi parliaments to prepare the ground for implementing the agreements signed during President Abdul Latif Rashid’s visit to Tehran in May.
Mashhadani said he discussed a variety of issues with his Iranian counterpart in border, water, roads, security and border areas as well as armed terrorist groups.
Pointing to the latest developments in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, the Iraqi parliament speaker said his country believes that no one should be allowed to disrupt regional security and stability.
The entire region needs security and stability, the Iraqi official stated. Baghdad, he said, hopes to witness the continuous flourishing of its relations with Tehran.
The Iraqi official said Iran and Iraq have a common and clear stance on regional developments, including the issue of Palestine.