Iranian VP hails trade transactions with Iraq

Iranian Vice-President for International Affairs Ali Saeedlou Wednesday underlined that the value of trade transactions between Tehran and Baghdad have witnessed remarkable growth, adding that the country's trade balance with Iraq currently exceeds $13bln Saeedlou assessed the value of trade balance between Iran and Iraq at the highest level, adding that great efforts are made by the two sides to expand trade transactions and economic ties . The Iranian vice-president added that, presently, Iraq is importing over 25 billion cubic meters of gas from Iran, adding that officials of the two countries have also discussed export of Iran's electricity to Iraq. Iran and Iraq have enjoyed growing ties ever since the overthrow of the former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, during the 2003 US invasion of the Muslim country. Meantime, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is slated to visit Iraqi capital of Baghdad to talk with Iraqi officials to expand bilateral ties between the two Muslim states, Saeedlou said on Tuesday.