|
BAGHDAD, May 25-- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday paid an official visit to Baghdad to discuss with the Iraqi leaders bilateral and regional situation. Zarif, heading a high-level delegation, arrived in Baghdad in the afternoon and then held a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi in his office. The two sides "discussed relations between Iraq and Iran, as well as regional and international situations and means to remove the damage of sanctions and dangers of war on the two countries and the region," a statement by Mahdi's office said. The two leaders "stressed the importance of security and stability of the region and how to maintain the nuclear agreement," the statement said without giving further details. Another statement by the Iraqi presidency office said that Iraqi President Barham Salih received Zarif and his accompanying delegation in the evening. Salih stressed that Iraq "seeks to be a converging spot for the brotherly and friendly countries as well as a stabilizing factor in the region in order to build balanced ties with all countries, especially the neighboring ones in accordance to common interests," the statement said. During the meeting, Salih and Zarif discussed the latest political developments at the regional and international levels. They also talked about the "necessity to prevent war and escalation as well as to rely on calmness and adopt constructive dialogue so as to consolidate the foundations of peace in the region," the statement said. | 
