Baghdad, Tehran agree to resume air flights

The Iraqi foreign minister Naji Sabri has announced the resumption of air flights between Tehran and Baghdad very soon to transport the Iranian pilgrims who wish to visit the holy sites in Iraq.

The Iranian News Agency IRNA quoted the Iraqi minister as saying:" following the negotiations we held in Tehran, air flights will be resumed shortly to transport the Iranians who desire to visit the holy Shiite sites in Iraq."

The Iraqi minister, who concluded a three day visit to Iran said: "The coming of the Iranian visitors to us is very important. It is a basic factor to developing relations between the two Muslim states. " Worthy mentioning that between 30,000 and 50,000 Iranians are visiting the Shiite holy sites in al-Najaf, Karbalaa in the south of Iraq where the grave of the first and fourth Shiite Imam lie ( Ali and al-Hussein).

On the Iranian- Iraqi borders the Iraqi tourism agencies guarantee the transportation of visitors. Many of those complain of the very expensive tariff for these flights. Also worthy mentioning that 90 % of the Iranians and almost half of the Iraqi people are Shiite. The Iraqi foreign minister did not set a date for starting these flights.