Iranian Foreign Minister Visits Iraq

Iran's new Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif

Iran's new foreign minister has arrived in Iraq on his first trip abroad since taking office.

Mohammad Javad Zarif landed in Baghdad on September 8 and was met by his Iraqi counterpart, Hoshyar Zebari.

Zarif is also due to meet Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Iran's official Iranian news agency IRNA quotes Zarif as saying that Tehran has "joint concerns with our Iraqi brothers on war-waging in the region."

That is an apparent reference to U.S.-led plans for strikes on Syria over the alleged use of chemical weapons.

Iraq's Shi'ite-led government has sought to maintain a neutral stance towards the Syrian conflict and has warned against any Western military intervention in Syria.

Iran, the main regional ally of Damascus, also opposes a strike.


Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters