Iranian President to Meet Iraq’s Top Shia Cleric Wednesday
Javad al-Ghazali, a member of Najaf provincial council, said the Iranian president is scheduled to travel to Najaf on Wednesday morning.
During his visit to the holy city, al-Ghazali said, Rouhani will meet with a number of senior clerics, including grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.
Rouhani is in Baghdad on a trip aimed at solidifying strategic ties.
He started the trip by visiting the mausoleums of two Shia Imams in Kadhimiya, north of Baghdad.
He also met with his Iraqi counterpart Barham Salih shortly after arrival on Monday for important talks which the Iranian president described as “very good.”
“Strengthening ties between Tehran and Baghdad works to the benefit of both countries and we won’t let this positive path towards progress slow down to a halt,” Rouhani said at a joint news conference.
Salih described the trip as “very important” and said the two sides had agreed on new frameworks for cooperation which would be unveiled later in the day.
“We need to get past trivial details in mutual relations and think about the bigger and broader space for cooperation and ties because this would best serve the interests of both countries,” he added.
The Iranian president also thanked Iraq for hosting millions of Iranians who pour into the neighboring country every year to mark the occasion of Arbaeen, which is the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS).
