Iran Press/ Middle East: Ehsan Khandouzi made the remarks in a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani in Baghdad.
Iran's Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs arrived in Baghdad on Monday to take part in the Iranian-Iraqi Economic Commission.
The fifth Iran-Iraq joint economic commission kicked off on Sunday in Baghdad and will continue until Tuesday, March 14.
As of March 21, 2022, to January 20, 2023, Iran and Iraq have about $9 billion in trade; during the period, Iran experienced 23 percent growth in its exports to Iraq, which is worth about $9 million.
The imports from Iraq also reduced up to 84 percent and reached $146 million.
Khandouzi expressed hope that the high committee of bilateral relations between the two countries will soon be formed with the presence of Mr. Sudani and the Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber.
He appreciated Iraq's mediating role in regional issues, saying that Iran is ready to implement a number of the most important projects between the two countries, including the Shalamcheh-Basra railway, as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Al Sudani called for developing cooperation mechanisms and not waiting for annual commissions.
He considered the construction of the Shalamcheh-Basra railway as a symbol of the popular and cultural connection between the two great nations of Iran and Iraq and expressed hope for launching this line soon.
He offered the Iraqi government’s readiness to cooperate in the field of joint industrial settlements, saying that the private sector should be encouraged to invest in these settlements.
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