The Iranian foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called for an official visit to Baghdad, allowing difficult for the Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Kazemi dilemma: how not to offend its regional partners. This week Mr. Kazemi is sent to Saudi Arabia and Iran. Both countries compete for influence in Baghdad, and the question of which Iraqi Prime Minister will visit the first, was the main intrigue in the preparation of the visits. In the end the first will be Saudi Arabia, but Iran still found a way to show its importance for Iraq.On Sunday, Iranian foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held talks in Baghdad and Erbil (Iraqi Kurdistan). The trip was presented as part of the preparations for the upcoming this week the visit of Prime Minister of Iraq, Mustafa Kazemi in Tehran. “We have good relations with Iraq, in terms of energy and trade. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, we hope that the trade volume will reach $20 billion,” said Mr Zarif at a press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein.In addition to the prospects for economic cooperation the two Ministers discussed security issues, including recalled the death of the commander of the Iranian special forces “al-Quds” Islamic revolutionary guard Corps General Qassem Soleimani during a US RAID in January this year. “We need to exchange views on international issues, terrorist attack on America and the death of General Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis (the head of the Iraqi Shiite militias, “al-Hashd al-SHAABI”.— “Kommersant”). This is an important issue for us,” said the Iranian foreign Minister. Before the talks, not having to walk down the ramp, he went to the place of death of General Soleimani in Baghdad airport.In Baghdad, Mohammad Javad Zarif also met with the President of Iraq Barham Saleh and Prime Minister Mustafa Kazemi, who was sworn in only in may, and for four years held the post of head of national intelligence. Mr. Kazemi is considered Pro-American politician. In winter, close to the Tehran forces in Iraq accused him of letting Americans information about the visit of General Soleimani in Baghdad. And after the appointment of the new Prime Minister began to attempt to take control of “al-Hashd al-SHAABI”, many of the units which are considered Pro-Iranian. However, Tehran this relationship does not hide. During his visit to Baghdad Mohammad Javad Zarif met with representatives of the militia. These words were seen as an allusion to the attempts of Saudi Arabia and the United States to weaken Iranian influence in Iraq. Especially true they were made in anticipation of the upcoming visits of Mustafa Kazemi. On Monday the Iraqi Prime Minister should visit one of the most ambitious projects of Saudi Arabia — under construction the city of the future ��of AMR and meet with the crown Prince of the Kingdom, Mohammed bin Salman. It is expected that they will discuss the proposals of Baghdad on attracting Saudi investments in energy and other infrastructure projects in Iraq. Immediately after Saudi Arabia, Iraqi Prime Minister will travel to Iran.The question of what country Mustafa Kazemi will visit first after his appointment to the post of Prime Minister, Iran or Saudi Arabia, has provoked much discussion in the Arab media. The choice of Mustafa Kazemi, obviously not pleased Tehran. As says the former Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Bach al-Araji, Zarif’s visit to Baghdad was organized after the Iranians failed to convince Mustafa Kazemi first visit to Tehran. Evidence of this version from the existing the officials there, but the visit of Mohammad Javad Zarif in Baghdad just two days before negotiations, the Iraqi Prime Minister in Tehran, speaks for itself. However, there is a version that it is through Baghdad Iran sends message to Saudi Arabia, with which their relations are often seen as being on the brink of war.This will be the first visit of the Prime Minister of Iraq to the United States for three years. A month ago, Baghdad and Washington embarked on a series of consultations in the framework of the strategic dialogue, which aims to review all existing bilateral relations. In the first round of negotiations, it was agreed that the United States will continue to reduce its military presence in Iraq and will discuss with Baghdad the status of those remaining in the country of American troops. After the assassination of General Soleimani, the Iraqi Parliament voted for the withdrawal of all foreign military. However, the Iraqi authorities are interested in continuing counter-terrorism cooperation with the United States. While Baghdad does not want to turn into a territory for a showdown between Tehran and Washington. But to avoid this difficult. So, a salute to the visit Zarifa was another attack on the us Embassy in Baghdad. Washington is usually accused of such attacks on Pro-Iranian troops “al-Hashd al-SHAABI”, and Tehran. But Iraqi politicians repeatedly stress that Baghdad is committed to a balanced relationship with all external players and sees itself as a power that plays a stabilizing role in the region. Mentioned about this in the course of the visit, Mr. Zarif.”Since his appointment, Mustafa Kazemi tries to establish control over the security forces and extra-systemic armed groups, but for too long many of these entities were Autonomous from the government. Of course, now they don’t want to give up their positions. Kazemi as a former head of intelligence understands the balance of power in Baghdad, and that he needs to be a balance between all the external players in the Irake. And although its sympathies towards US, to quarrel with Tehran, he will not be”,— said “Kommersant” program Manager of the Russian international Affairs Council Ruslan Mamedov.Marianna Belenkaya
