Sanctions-hit Iran to build marketing center in Baghdad

Iran is planning to establish a center in the Iraqi capital Baghdad for marketing its products in the neighboring country, Tehran Times daily reported Saturday.

Iran's Exhibition Projects Management Company, developer of the plan, will hold exhibitions in Iraq to increase bilateral trade and exchange information and technical knowledge between the two countries. The Iranian center will be active by the end of 2019, according to the report.

On March 4, Hamid Hosseini, secretary general of Iran-Iraq Joint Chamber of Commerce, said Iraq was ready to establish a joint bank with Iran.

An Iraqi man unloads electrical appliances imported from Iran in Baghdad, Iraq, February 23, 2019. /VCG Photo

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will lead a high-ranking politico-economic delegation for a visit to Iraq on Monday at the official invitation of his Iraqi counterpart Barham Salih to discuss bilateral ties.

The visit comes as the United States has been on Iran's oil industry and its banking and transport sectors, after Washington pulled out from the 2015 landmark nuclear deal last May.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in Baghdad on Saturday ahead of Rouhani's visit, the Iraqi official news agency reported.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (R) and Iraqi President Barham Salih hold a joint press conference in Tehran, Iran. /VCG Photo

An official from the Iraqi Foreign Ministry told Xinhua that Rouhani is scheduled to meet with Iraqi President Barham Salih, Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi and Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi, as well as other political and religious leaders.

During a meeting with Iraqi Ambassador to Tehran Saad Abdul Wahab Jawad Qandil on Saturday, Rouhani said Iran is longing for the promotion of Iraq's security, development and welfare as a brotherly and friendly country, the Iran Front Page (IFP) news website reported.

"Like a brother, the Islamic Republic of Iran has stood by the Iraqi nation and government in all areas and through all bitter and sweet events, and will continue to do so," the Iranian president said.

Iran and Iraq fought an eight-year war in the 1980s, but bilateral ties normalized after the fall of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in 2003. Currently, Iran is the second largest source of imported goods in Iraq.

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: Iraqi men unload air conditioners and electrical appliances imported from Iran in Baghdad, Iraq, February 23, 2019. /VCG Photo)

(CGTN)