Iraqi President Salih heads to Tehran on regional tour
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraqi President Barham Salih will visit Tehran on Saturday, part of a regional tour.
Salih will meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and a number of Iranian leaders “to discuss ways of cooperation and bilateral relations between the two countries as well as discuss developments in the region,” his office announced.
He will be joined on the trip by a number of ministers from the Iraqi cabinet.
Iraq and Iran enjoy close ties. The relationship is one that the United States is looking to weaken.
Washington gave Iraq until the end of December to end its imports of natural gas and electricity from Iran before being required to comply with US sanctions.
The spokesperson for Iraq’s Oil Ministry, Assim Jihad, told Rudaw on Friday that Iraq has no alternative to its gas imports from Iran, casting on doubt on whether Baghdad will be able to meet the US deadline.
The European Union has said it is ready to support Iraq to deal with the “consequences” of the sanctions.
Salih is in the middle of a regional tour, forging ties between the new administration in Baghdad and neighbours.
He has visited Jordan, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He is also expected to visit Saudi Arabia.
Salih will meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and a number of Iranian leaders “to discuss ways of cooperation and bilateral relations between the two countries as well as discuss developments in the region,” his office announced.
He will be joined on the trip by a number of ministers from the Iraqi cabinet.
Iraq and Iran enjoy close ties. The relationship is one that the United States is looking to weaken.
Washington gave Iraq until the end of December to end its imports of natural gas and electricity from Iran before being required to comply with US sanctions.
The spokesperson for Iraq’s Oil Ministry, Assim Jihad, told Rudaw on Friday that Iraq has no alternative to its gas imports from Iran, casting on doubt on whether Baghdad will be able to meet the US deadline.
The European Union has said it is ready to support Iraq to deal with the “consequences” of the sanctions.
Salih is in the middle of a regional tour, forging ties between the new administration in Baghdad and neighbours.
He has visited Jordan, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He is also expected to visit Saudi Arabia.