The LA Times reports the visit of the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki to Iran to discuss economic, transportation and electricity issues. He said – our security achievements and redeeming Iraq from the sectarian war gave us the chance to exert more efforts to accelerate the process of reconstruction and development, which needs the presence of neighboring countries’ companies.
Iraq’s minister of education, Khudair Khuzai, also an Islamic Dawa member, said Maliki had an additional aim: to help improve relations between the U.S. and Iran. He said – we believe that having any tension between those countries will reflect negatively on Iraq, Iraq wants to be a [bridge] between both countries.