Iraq tops Iran’s visiting tourists list

TEHRAN – Some 2 million Iraqi nationals visited Iran during the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21), turning the country into Iran’s largest source of tourists, ISNA reported.

Iraq welcomes Iranian participation in renovation projects

TEHRAN- In a meeting with the Secretary of the Committee of Expanding Economic Relations with Iraq and Syria Hassan Danaieefar, Iraqi Minister of Construction and Housing Bengin Rikani voiced his country’s tendency for cooperation of Iranian companies in renovation projects in Iraq, IRNA reported on Sunday.

Iraq needs 2 years to stop Iranian gas imports: energy official

Iraq needs at least two years to boost the country’s gas production to stop importing Iranian gas used to feed its power stations, a senior Iraqi energy official said on Thursday.

Iraqi tribal chiefs slam U.S. sanctions on Iran

TEHRAN – During a conference in Baghdad, heads of 500 Iraqi tribes, including Shia and Sunni, have denounced Washington’s unilateral sanctions against the Islamic Republic, IRNA reported on Tuesday.

Allawi urges Iraq to mediate between Tehran and Washington

TEHRAN – Former Iraqi Vice President Ayad Allawi has asked the Iraqi government to mediate between Tehran and Washington in order to thwart the effects of Washington’s Iran sanctions on his country.

Iraq’s Maliki says Muslim nations rely on Iran to counter hegemons

TEHRAN – Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said on Saturday the world’s Muslim nations rely on the Islamic Republic of Iran in order to unify against hegemonic powers, ISNA reported.

Tehran, Baghdad show strong commitment to win-win relations: Zarif

TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has expressed optimism at a recent visit by Iraqi President Barham Salih to Tehran, saying Tehran and Baghdad are seeking a “win-win” relationship.

Salih’s Tehran visit shows Iraq defying Iran sanctions, ex-diplomat says

TEHRAN – Former Iranian Ambassador to Iraq Hassan Danaeefar has said Iraqi President Barham Salih’s visit to Tehran means that Iraq attaches great importance to its relations with Iran, despite the U.S. sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

Iran's exports to Iraq rise 30% in 7 months on year

TEHRAN- Iran’s exports to Iraq rose 30 percent during the first seven months of the present Iranian calendar year (March 21-October 22), compared to that of the same time span in the past year, according to the Chairman of Iran-Iraq Joint Chamber of Commerce Yahya Al-e Es’haq.

Iraq agrees to set up free-trade zone along border with Iran

Iraqi President Barham Salih announced on Saturday that his country has agreed to establish a "free-trade zone" along its border with Iran, following a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani in Tehran, Al Jazeera reported. 

Ex-envoy hails Salih’s trip as ‘negative response’ to sanctions

TEHRAN – Former Iranian Ambassador to Baghdad Hassan Kazemi Qomi said on Saturday that the Iraqi president’s trip to Tehran is a “negative response” by the Iraqi government to U.S. pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic.

EU ready to help Iraq deal with U.S. sanctions on Tehran

The European Union is ready to help Iraq “deal with the consequences” of U.S. sanctions on Iran, the EU’s foreign policy chief told Iraq’s prime minister in a phone call on Friday.

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Head of Political Desk

Ayatollah Khamenei: Unity is the way out for Iraq

TEHRAN - Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a meeting with Iraqi President Barham Salih in Tehran on Saturday, said that unity among Iraqis is the way for the country to triumph over enemies.

Iraqi president to visit Iran Saturday

TEHRAN – Iraqi President Barham Salih arrives in Iran on Saturday for a two-day visit.

Kharrazi: We have no choice but to resist sanctions 

Despite claims, U.S. sanctioning the Iranian people not the government, Kharrazi says

TEHRAN - The U.S. claims that it has sanctioned Iran’s government, but in fact the people of Iran are being sanctioned, said Kamal Kharrazi, head of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, in an interview with France24 broadcast on Wednesday.

Iraq receives sanction waiver for importing gas, electricity from Iran

TEHRAN - Iraq has received a 45-day waiver over U.S. sanctions against Iran which allows the country to continue to import natural gas and electricity from Iran, Reuters reported citing the U.S. embassy in Iraq.

‘Tehran-Baghdad ties not based on tribalism’

TEHRAN – Iran’s ambassador to Iraq says Tehran-Baghdad relations are not based on tribalism, urging the two sides to act in the interest of their people and not that of the United States.

Larijani congratulates new Iraqi PM

TEHRAN – Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani has congratulated the new Iraqi prime minister on winning the vote of confidence, saying the Iranian parliament is ready to contribute to closer ties between the two countries.

‘Iraq to prioritize own interests regarding Iran sanctions’

TEHRAN – New Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi said on Thursday that Baghdad will prioritize its own interests and independence when it comes to implementing unilateral U.S. sanctions on Iran.

1.8 million Iranian pilgrims taking trek to Karbala

TEHRAN — Some 1.8 million pilgrims from Iran have received visas to participate in the Arbaeen trek, an official with Interior Ministry has said.

Tehran calls on Iraq to facilitate travel of Iranian pilgrims

Zarif says Arbaeen symbolizes Iran-Iraq unity

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday called on the Iraqi government to facilitate travel of the Iranian pilgrims for the Arbaeen ritual, particularly in border areas.

Iraq to ask U.S. for Iran sanctions waivers

TEHRAN – The Iraqi government is planning to officially ask the U.S. to exempt Baghdad from sanctions over continued economic ties with the neighboring Iran, Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Mahjoub has said.

Army ramps up border security ahead of Arbaeen pilgrimage

TEHRAN – The Iranian Army has dispatched combat and civilian service units to borders with Iraq in order to ensure the security of Arbaeen pilgrims and provide them with a range of services, a commander said on Monday.

IRGC able to accommodate 110,000 Arbaeen pilgrims

TEHRAN – The IRGC Arbaeen headquarters is able to accommodate as many as 110,000 pilgrims in the shrine cities of Najaf, Karbala and Samarra in Iraq during the Arbaeen pilgrimage, a military official said on Sunday.

‘History to record Iran’s support for Iraq with golden pen’

TEHRAN – Secretary-general of the Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba has hailed the role of IRGC Quds Force Commander Major General Qassem Soleimani in fighting the terrorists in Iraq, saying history will register the hardships that Iran endured for helping Iraq in this struggle with a “golden pen”.

Half a million visas issued for Arbaeen pilgrims

TEHRAN – Over 500,000 visas have so far been issued for Iranian pilgrims who are to make their ways to the holy Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala.

Enemy misrepresenting Iran to create frustration 

TEHRAN – The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said on Wednesday that the enemy is representing a “false, negative, and disappointing” image of Iran.

Iranian center to organize photo contest on Arbaeen pilgrimage

TEHRAN – Al-Ummah, a satellite institute of Iran’s Study Center of the Islamic Revolution Cultural Front, plans to organize a photography contest on the Arbaeen pilgrimage this year.

By Ramin Hossein Abadian

Abdul Mahdi, on path to form a cohesive, national Iraqi cabinet

TEHRAN – Adel Abdul Mahdi, an Iraqi politician, was elected as the prime minister of Iraq by the new President Barham Salih.

Police to provide full security for Arbaeen pilgrims

TEHRAN – Police Chief Brigadier General Hossein Ashtari told reporters in Tehran on Saturday that his forces would provide full security for citizens traveling to Iraq for the Arbaeen pilgrimage later this month.