Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zangeneh arrived in Baghdad on Thursday for talks with Iraqi officials, amid growing energy cooperation between the neighbors.

Iran Press/Middle East: Having been received by Deputy Prime Minister for Energy and Minister of Oil of Iraq, Thamir Abbas Ghadhban at Baghdad Airport, Bijan Zangeneh said Iran is willing to take the opportunity of this visit to enhance cooperation between the two countries particularly in the energy field.

According to Iran Press, Iranian Oil Minister is supposed to meet with his Iraqi counterpart and the Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi. 

Iranian Foreign Minister  Mohammad Javad Zarif will also lead a high-ranking politico-economic delegation to Iraq.

Iran asked Iraq not to abide by US sanctions, and continue trade using the Iraqi dinar.

In another blow to US control over Iraq, the country’s foreign minister warned that Baghdad would ignore US sanctions on Iran.

Iran is currently exporting electricity to Iraq. Besides, the Iranian gas exports to Iraq stands at 15 million cubic meters a day that will be increased to some 40 million cubic meters a day when all export plans are implemented.

Trade exchanges between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq amounts to $12 billion a year. 101

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