Iraqi PM visits Tehran amidst Iran's open policy with neighbors

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki will start a visit to Tehran Wednesday with the Islamic Republic feeling relief following the nuclear agreement with the P5+1 group coupled with an open policy with its neighbors. This is Al-Maliki's first visit to Iran following last August election of President Hassan Rohani who attempted to open new channels of communication with regional countries, thus sending his foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to Baghdad the following month. Iraqi Ambassador in Tehran Mohammad Majeed Al-Sheikh said in press remarks Tuesday that Al-Maliki's visit "is highly important amidst these sensitive circumstances in the region, and Iraq welcomes the development of relations between Iran and the countries in the region." He said the visit would have "important benefits and results for Iraq. Al-Sheikh said the Syrian conflict would be on the agenda of Al-Maliki's meetings, including with spiritual leader Ali Khamenei. Al-Maliki's visits to Tehran since assuming office in 2006 reflected his keenness to maintain good relations with Iran, and the fact his government needed the Iranian influence on political parties in Iraq. Trade and economic exchange between Iran and Iraq has surged to USD seven billion during the last few years. Iran is active in private sector in Iraq. Former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Iraq in March 2008 to be the first Iranian leader visiting Baghdad since the war between the two neighboring countries in the 1980s.