Iran Press/ Iran News: Hassan Rouhani in a telephone conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi on Saturday afternoon, referring to the great potential of cooperation between Iran and Iraq as two neighboring countries, added: "Improving the level of economic relations along with political relations is very important and facilitating the issuance of business visas for businessmen and private investment companies can help develop these relationships."
"We oppose any foreign interference in the internal affairs of Iraq and consider it to the detriment of this country and the entire region," he said, emphasizing that security, unity, peace, and tranquility in Iraq are a serious concern and priority for Iran."
Rouhani also stressed the need for the immediate release of Iranian foreign currency resources in Iraq, noting that billions of dollars of Iranian foreign currencies have been blocked in Iraqi banks and that Iranian-owned resources have not yet been released, despite repeated promises by Iraqi officials.
He called the presence of US troops in the region, including Iraq, destabilizing, adding: "The Americans have always played a destructive role in the region, and speeding up the implementation of the Iraqi parliament's resolution on the withdrawal of US troops from the country can bring peace and stability to the region."
Stating that the problems and issues of the region should be resolved by the countries of the region themselves, the President stressed the readiness of the Islamic Republic to cooperate with the countries of the region in this field in order to maintain security, peace, and tranquility.
Referring to the Tehran-Baghdad agreements to develop and deepen bilateral relations, including the Shalamcheh-Basra railway project and cooperation in the field of energy and border and transit exchanges, Rouhani stressed the need to accelerate the implementation and operation of these agreements.
The Prime Minister of Iraq, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, mentioned the Islamic Republic of Iran as a good friend and neighbor of Iraq, emphasizing the development and deepening of relations between the two countries in all fields, launching the Shalamcheh-Basra railway project and connecting the railway between the two countries as an important step in the development of economic and trade relations.
He praised Iran for its help in establishing security and stability in Iraq, calling US sanctions against Iran illegal and oppressive, noting: "Fortunately, with the changes in the US government, new conditions have been created for cooperation and Iraq is making every effort for the complete lifting of sanctions against Iran."
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