President Rouhani:

Iranian, Iraqi Nations Inseparable

TEHRAN (defapress) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani highlighted the close cultural and religious bonds between Iran and Iraq, saying the two nations are so united that no one could separate them.

News ID: 76154

Date: 13 March 2019 - 11:37

In an address to a group of Iraqi elites, nomads, and religious leaders on Tuesday, the Iranian president highlighted the strong bonds between the Iranian and Iraqi nations, saying, “The fact that millions of Iranians travel to Iraq, especially Karbala and Najaf, in a year, indicates that the two nations are completely united in terms of culture and beliefs.”

“No power can separate this united community,” he underscored, adding, “We consider this land as the land of jihad, martyrdom, self-sacrifice and devotion.”

“The people of Iraq, especially Karbala, warmly welcome Iranian pilgrims during Arbaeen and I would like to thank them on behalf of the Iranian nation,” the president’s website quoted him as saying.

“We are very happy that there is more unity, brotherhood and solidarity between the Iranian and Iraqi nations,” Rouhani added.

“The first people that came to help Iraq in their fight against ISIS and al-Qaeda, were the people of Iran,” he noted, adding, “After the occupation of Mosul by Daesh terrorists, we announced in a public speech that we would not tolerate threats against holy cities of Iraq, including Karbala.”

He also congratulated the Iraqi nation, nomads and religious authorities for foiling the plots hatched by the enemies against the region and Iraq, adding, “In this stage, the two governments agreed to issue visas free of charge.”

“The two governments also decided to deepen economic relations and create border markets for investment by Iranian and Iraqi tradespeople,” the president stated.

“We are trying to make academic relations between the two countries closer and, in doing so, we are ready to provide several laboratories for Iraqi universities”.

Rouhani went on to say that unity and integrity in Iraq are “to the benefit of Iraq and the entire region and the two countries agree on security and stability issues.”

Heading a high-ranking delegation, Rouhani arrived in Baghdad on Monday at the official invitation of the Iraqi government. It is Rouhani’s first official visit to Iraq during his tenure.

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