Iran Press / Middle East: According to an Iran Press report on Saturday, Iran's ambassador to Baghdad, Iraj Masjedi emphasized that Tehran's view of Baghdad does not depend on which political party or group holds sway in Baghdad.
Speaking on Saturday to an audience of academics, researchers and students at the National Defense University in Baghdad, Iraj Masjedi said: "Friendly relations between Iran and Iraq should expand in such a way that it becomes an exemplary case, taught by politics and international relations departments in universities throughout the world."
Commenting further Masjedi said: "Iran looks upon Iraq as a strategic friend. Iran wants peace, friendship and brotherly relations with Iraq, and the two neighbouring countries have turned their common border to a 'border of friendship and cooperation'.
Helping Iraq in every way we can
The senior Iranian diplomat added: "Iran wants a powerful Iraq, an industrial Iraq which is advanced in all fields, and we will make every effort for Iraq to achieve this goal, assisting Iraq in every way that we can."
Commenting on Iraq's fight against ISIS terrorists, Masjedi said: "When the government in Baghdad asked us for help, we immediately responded, assisting Iraq in its fight against ISIS terrorists."
Currently, Iran and Iraq have extensive political and trade ties with each other. Iraq depends on Iran's natural gas imports for electricity generation.
Iran is currently Iraq's top trading partner, with annual turnover of about $12 billion, according to Iraqi officials.
The two neighbours are currently working on the supply of Iranian natural gas to Sadr, Baghdad and al-Mansuriya power plants through a 270-kilometer pipeline and to Basra near the Iranian border via a separate pipeline.
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