Iraq, Iran committees to develop trade, economic relations

Iran and Iraq have agreed to form several joint committees to develop trade and economic relations between the two countries in the context of the oil-for-food program signed between Baghdad and the UN.

Iraqi dailies reported on Sunday that the two sides concluded the agreement during official talks held on Saturday between Iranian Trade Minister Muhammad Sharia Madari, currently visiting Iraq, and his Iraqi counterpart, Muhammad Mahdi Saleh.

The papers quoted the Iraqi minister as saying that Iran and Iraq should unite their efforts in international arenas to counter Israeli threats and preserve the region's peace and security.

Saleh visited Tehran in October and discussed with his Iranian counterpart means of accelerating trade exchange in the course of an agreement signed by the two countries in July, 1998.