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Saleh al-Zarif: Iraq and Iran are a major weight and an important influence in the region


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Activists think bad intentions behind Iranian FM's visit to Iraq

 

The Baghdad Post has recently shared a post asking the audience to guess the reason behindIranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's visit to Iraq at such critical time for Tehran amidUS sanctions imposed in late 2018 on Iran.

Hundreds of activists interacted with the post, indicating that Iraq's visit has increased the Iraqi street's discomfort over Iranian policy in Iraq for nearly 16 years.

"The purpose of the visit is a message to America that Iran is completely in control of Iraq in terms of economy and goods, and even the military aspects, as well as the political side," Mohamed al-Iraqi said.

"Zarif came to Baghdad to reconcile between the Shiite parties and militias, which are fighting with each other over Iraqi resources," Ali Yasser said.

Ali al-Nasseri said that Zarif's visit indicates that "no authority [in Iraq] is higher than the authority of al-faqih," referring to Tehran.

"The goal of the visit is to [loot] the wealth of the Iraqi people and to get rid of the American sanctions imposed on the mullahs," Tammam Maitham wrote.

Ashraf al-Rikani said that the purpose of the visit is to drive a wedge between the US and Iraq.

The real reason behind the Iranian foreign minister's visit to Iraq remains unknown. However, Iranian visits to Iraq have been seen suspicious, especially after US sanctions urged Iraq to curb relations with Tehran.

Two reasons are believed to be behind the Iranian Foreign Minister's visit to Iraq, including influencing the formation of the Iraqi government and circumventing the US sanctions.

Tehran is believed to be behind the delay of the completion of Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi's government, due to the insistence of its "allying parties and figures" to pass controversial Faleh al-Fayadh for the interior minister post in the new government.

Iraqi sources revealed that Iran has asked the Iraqi government not to announce the schedule of the visit of Zarif to Baghdad and Erbil at the head of a political and economic delegation that started on Sunday.

According to the sources, Tehran justified its request that its embassy in the Iraqi capital will take over the media minister's program, which angered parliamentary blocs and prompted it to consider the order as "Iranian tutelage."

Sources said that the Iranian embassy prepared a comprehensive program for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, including meetings with parliamentary blocs and IMIS figures before the official meetings with Abdul Mahdi, Parliament Speaker Mohamed al-Halbousi and President Barham Salih, Saudi Okaz reported.

Zarif has planned to discuss political files, most notably the crisis to complete the formation of the new government and the Iraqi stance towards the US sanctions on Iran, the sources revealed.

 

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/35217/Activists-think-bad-intentions-behind-Iranian-FM-s-visit-to-Iraq

 

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Iran accused of recruiting German translator

 

A 50-year old Afghan-German dual national who worked for the German military was detained on Tuesday on suspicion of passing data to anIranian intelligence agency, Germany’s federal prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday.

The suspect, identified only as Abdul Hamid S., will go before a judge later Tuesday, the prosecutor’s office said, according to Reuters.

“Abdul Hamid S. is strongly suspected of having worked for a foreign intelligence agency. The suspect was a language expert and cultural adviser for the Bundeswehr (German armed forces). In this capacity, he is believed to have passed insights to an Iranian intelligence agency,” it said in a statement.

A spokesman for the German defense ministry said it was aware of an espionage case involving a member of the military, but gave no further details.

German news magazine Der Spiegel reported that the suspect had access to sensitive information in his role with the military, including possible data on troop deployments in Afghanistan.

The German military often uses native-born interpreters to accompany troops on patrol in Afghanistan.

Iran's cyber attacks

Intelligence officials in Germany and Europe have raised concerns about what they see as Iran’s increasing espionage activities, including through cyber attacks.

In July, Germany’s domestic intelligence agency reported that Iran had expanded its cyber attack capabilities and posed a danger to German companies and research institutions.

Allegations of espionage and cyber attacks by Iran come at a particularly sensitive time for Germany, which is battling along with other European countries to preserve the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran, from which the United States has withdrawn.

In January, the foreign ministry summoned Iran’s ambassador to reprimand Tehran for spying on individuals and groups with close ties to Israel.

European Union sanctions

Earlier in January, the European Union has agreed to enact sanctions against Iran's intelligence agency "for its assassination plots on European soil," Danish foreign minister Anders Samuelsen said.

According to the Danish Foreign Ministry, both Iran's intelligence agency and its director general of intelligence, Saeid Hashemi Moghadam, were now on the EU's terror list.

Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen said the EU's decision marked "a huge victory."

"No other country's intelligence services are on the terror list," he said in a statement. "So it's a very clear signal we send to Iran today."

Anders added that he believed the signal showed that the EU would "not accept such behavior in Europe."

The plot was carried out by a Norwegian citizen of Iranian background, who had ties to Iran's intelligence agency, and planned to assassinate an Iranian-Arab opposition activist in Denmark, officials asserted.

Paris attack

Earlier in October, French authorities said they had foiled a plot to attack an exiled opposition group near Paris. The Iranian intelligence ministry was "without any doubt" behind the plot, a diplomatic source was quoted by Reuters as saying.

 

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/35210/Iran-accused-of-recruiting-German-translator

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Iran struggles to enhance economic ties with Iraq despite US sanctions

 

Two days after the Iranian foreign minister passed through Iraq, he decided to encourage Iraqi businessmen to import Iranian products by encouraging them to travel with less obstacles to Iran, a step which probably aims at circumventing the US sanctions imposed on Iran in late 2018.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif announced cancelling visas for "Iraqi traders" travelling to Iran.

During the Iraqi-Iranian economic conference held on Monday, which was attended by more than 100 Iraqi and Iranian businessmen, Zarif said that his country decided to finally remove any obstacles in the face of Iraqi traders.

Work visas to Iranians halted

The number of Iranians working in Iraq has dropped from 20,000 to 5,000 since Baghdad stopped issuing work visas for Iranian citizens, said the Governor General of Kurdistan province in western Iran.

Bahman Moradnia did not elaborate on the reasons behind Iraq's decision to stop issuing work visas for Iranians, Radio Farda reported earlier in January.

Meanwhile, Moradnia said that the lack of transport infrastructure, including air routes, is the most important hurdle in the way of business and trade between Iran's Kurdistan and the autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan.

Earlier, the chairman of Iranian parliament's influential Commission of National Security and Foreign Policy, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, had cautioned against Iran losing its economic position in Iraq and being replaced by Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

Iraq is the second biggest market for Iranian exports and Iran’s ambassador in November had said that trade can reach $22 billion annually in the future.

US sanctions, Pompeo's messages

Relations between Tehran and Washington are highly fraught after the decision in May by US President Donald Trump to withdraw from a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and to reimpose sanctions, including on Iran’s oil sector.

Speaking in Qatar on Sunday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the aims of the summit will include changing the “behavior” of Iran, which Washington accuses of destabilizing the region and supporting terrorism.

“We will gather around a number of different topics," Pompeo told reporters in Doha, adding that fighting ISIS is among them, in addition to getting Iran "to behave like a normal nation."

A few days after Pompeo concluded his recent visit in Iraq, the Economist newspaper revealed that the US seeks to conclude more contracts and oil deals with Iraq.

During the visit, Pompeo stressed the independence of Iraq in the field of energy. His remarks were seen by Iraqi officials as a clear message to stop buying Iranian gas and start contracting with US oil companies to develop gas fields in the country, the Economist said in a report.

Leading US energy companies, such as Chevron, are negotiating directly with the Iraqi Oil Ministry to get huge concession agreements, the report said. Moreover, Exxon Mobil is negotiating to establish deals to increase the volume of oil exports and build a major desalination plant.

 

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/35187/Iran-struggles-to-enhance-economic-ties-with-Iraq-despite-US-sanctions

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Zarif: US sanctions will not affect our relations with Iraq

07:18 - 15/01/2019

 
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BAGHDAD - 
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Tuesday that US sanctions on Iran would not affect relations with Iraq, while Tehran would support Iraq economically and security. 
"Iran will support Iraq, including the Kurdistan region economically and security," Zarif said during an economic forum for Iraqi and Iranian businessmen held in the province of Sulaymaniyah and his follower, Mawazin News. "Iran did not hesitate for a moment to defend all parts of Iraq When he was attacked by terrorism. " 
"We want the region to be developed and advanced within the framework of a single federal Iraq," he said, stressing that "any punishment will not affect relations between Iraq and Iran."
For his part, said the Minister of Finance and Economy in the Kurdistan Regional Government, Rebaz Helan, during the forum, "There are efforts to inaugurate two new border crossings between the new region and Iran, in addition to the existing three border crossings." 
"The volume of trade between the region and Iran is more than 8 billion US dollars in 2018," he said. 
It is noteworthy that the volume of trade exchange between Iraq and Iran, about 12 billion dollars. 
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Jawad Zarif arrived in Sulaymaniyah on Tuesday afternoon after a visit to Erbil this morning. 
Zarif, on Sunday (January 13, 2019) arrived in Baghdad on an official visit during which he met senior Iraqi officials.
After visiting the Kurdistan region, Zarif goes to the holy province of Karbala to attend the third economic symposium between Iranian investors and Iraqi investors from the Middle and South Euphrates provinces on Wednesday morning, and then to Najaf, and then return to Iran on Thursday.

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Zarif heads for Karbala and returns to Najaf next Thursday

11:49 - 15/01/2019

 
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Follow - up to the balance of News  
orientation of the Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, to the holy city of Karbala. 
Zarif left Najaf, which arrived on Saturday evening through its international airport for the city of Karbala to participate in an investment conference and the performance of the visit to the shrine of Imam Hussein and his brother Abbas peace be upon them. 
The Iranian minister will return to Najaf next Thursday to visit the shrine of Imam Ali A without a schedule of meetings in the province and then leave Iraq for a four-day visit. 
It is worth mentioning that Zarif arrived in the Kurdistan region from Baghdad on Sunday morning and met with a large number of Iraqi officials and discussed with them developments of relations between the two countries in various fields. 
Ended 
m h n 

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Release date: 2019/1/16 10:25  254 times read
Zareef from Karbala: They are expecting broad economic cooperation with Iraq
(AFP) - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said his country is poised for broad economic cooperation with Iraq.
"The positive relations between my people and the governments of the two countries open the door to broad economic cooperation in the coming period," Zarif said in his speech during his participation in an economic conference in Karbala, which was held yesterday by the Iranian consulate. 
He added that "the volume of trade exchange between Iraq and Iran reached in the past year to 8 billion dollars annually, reflecting the depth of cooperation between the two countries in this area." 
Zarif said, "I thank the Iraqi people for the hospitality and hospitality of the Iranian visitors."
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Date of release: 2019/1/16 13:33  298 times read
Zarif: We are ready to reduce customs tariffs with Iraq to zero and cancel the visa
(AFP) - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has confirmed that his country is ready to reduce customs tariffs with Iraq to zero.
"Iran is ready to reduce tariffs in its trade cooperation with Iraq to zero," Zarif said during a meeting at the economic cooperation forum in Karbala between Iran and the southern provinces, pointing out that "the country annually exports two billion dollars of gas and electricity to Iraq despite the embargo imposed." 
He called for "removing the obstacles that stand in the way of bilateral cooperation in order to raise the level of trade, which is currently estimated at 8 billion dollars." 
"There is a high level of efficiency in Iran with regard to the reconstruction of Iraq after a period of defiance and the presence of 80 engineering companies operating in Iraq worth $ 8 billion," he said, describing Iranian engineering companies as "the strongest and most efficient in the region." 
The Iranian foreign minister touched on the issue of the cancellation of entry visas to and from the two countries, and Iran's readiness to start the process. "
Zarif said that "the Iraqi and Syrian peoples are the ones who defeated the American without an American role," noting that "the victory over the oppressor in these two countries came thanks to the struggle of the Iraqi and Syrian peoples who sacrificed the blood of their pure youth in this way," denying "any relationship of the United States to achieve this victory" Describing it as "a regional achievement." 
Zarif expressed his conviction that "the present and future of the Iranian and Iraqi peoples are common," pointing out "their cooperation in combating the urging and overthrow of Saddam Hussein's dictatorial regime." 
Zarif Hassan thanked the hospitality of the Iraqi brothers to the Iranian visitors during the fortieth and other occasions. He said that "the aim of the influx of the Iranian people is not limited to trade and economic issues, but is proof of his love for the people of the house and peace be upon them." Close to the hearts of the two peoples. "
Zarif stressed that "America does not have the right to set limits on cooperation agreed by two countries," pointing out "the high rate of cooperation in the field of energy between the two countries and the ability of Iranian companies to provide the need of Iraq in this sector."
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Date of release:  2019/1/16 9:59  170 times read
Two new border ports between the Kurdistan region and Iran
(Baghdad: Al-Furat News) The Minister of Finance in the Kurdistan Regional Government, Rebaz Helman, on the comprehensive development of economic relations with Iran.
"The number of border crossings between Iran and the region is 7 outlets, three of which are international, and two other ports will soon be opened," Halaman said in a press statement. 
On the volume of trade exchange between the two sides, he said that "two thousand trucks enter the Kurdistan region of Iran on a daily basis and the annual trade volume of 6 billion dollars." 
He said that the trade exchange between the two sides rose by 70 percent over the past year 2018 ". 
He expressed the hope that" being under the new economic measures between the two sides and the establishment of industrial cities, the removal of existing obstacles to the joint production and trade volume to reach the real his balance. " 
The Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in Baghdad on Sunday at the head of a high-level political and economic delegation.
Zarif held meetings and talks in Baghdad with senior Iraqi officials and figures from various blocs, alliances and spectra. He also participated in a large economic forum with the participation of a large number of activists, businessmen and traders from both countries. 
In the second phase of his tour, Zarif visited the city of Arbil, Iraq and met with senior officials in the region and also participated in a major economic forum in the presence of the President of the provincial government, Nigervan Barzani. 
Zarif then went to Najaf and Karbala yesterday to visit the holy shrines and participate in a joint economic forum
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A catastrophe: Iran plans to control Iraq through reconstruction offers

IRAQ-IRAN-DIPLOMACY
 

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (L) and Iraqi counterpart Mohamed al-Hakim

Iranian firms should have a key role in rebuildingIraq after the fight against the ISIS, Tehran's foreign minister said Wednesday in a rare meeting with Iraqi paramilitary units.


Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif spoke in Iraq's holy city of Karbala to commanders of the Iranian Militias in Iraq and Syria (IMIS).


"The world has realized the truth - that the US wasn't the one who defeated ISIS. You were, and that's why they exerted pressure on you and on us," he told gathered commanders in Farsi. 


After ISIS overran nearly a third of Iraq in 2014,IMIS units partnered with Iraqi forces for three years to fight the jihadists - some of them have been blacklisted by the US, which also reimposed tough sanctions on Iran last year after pulling out of an international deal on Tehran's nuclear program.


Now, as Iraq is eager for funds and investments in reconstructing its devastated infra structure, Zarif said Iranian firms should be favored because of his country's support and the complex logistics of partnering with Western companies.


"If a European or American company comes toIraq to do rebuilding activities, the costs of protecting their workers and staff in Iraq exceeds its contract for reconstruction," he told commanders.


But an Iranian company could help rebuild at "low cost" and without security concerns, after having "stood alongside the Hashed - in reference to IMIS." 


ISIS and the battle to defeat it ravaged swathes of Iraq and shattered its economy. Last year, Baghdad said its 10-year reconstruction plan will cost an estimated $88.2 billion. 


One IMIS commander said his units were grateful to Iran.


"The main reason Iraq could persevere in the face of terrorism is the fact that Iran stood by its side. Everyone rejects America's entry into Iraq," said Abu Ammar Al-Jubury.


Zarif spoke to the commanders on his fourth day in Iraq, where he has met top officials in Baghdad and the Kurdish city of Arbil, and attended a trade summit.  


Besides canned food and cars, Baghdad buys 1,300 megawatts of electricity and 28 million cubic meters of natural gas daily from Iran to feed power plants.


As tensions between the US and Iran escalate,Iraq has played a careful balancing act to maintain ties to both. 

 

 

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/35283/A-catastrophe-Iran-plans-to-control-Iraq-through-reconstruction-offers

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