(IRNA) - Iran's Ambassador to Baghdad Hassan Kazemi Qomi conferred here Thursday with Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein Shahrestani on issues of mutual interest.
At the meeting, the Iraqi minister called for expansion of mutual cooperation in the oil sector, reports Trend.
Referring to political, cultural and economic commonalties between the two countries, the minister voiced the willingness of Iraqi government for expansion of all-out ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
He underlined that the two sides' cooperation could be extended to various issues such as controlling the territorial waters to prevent smuggling of fuels and oil derivatives. He called for formation of a joint technical committee to control the territorial waters.
"There exists ample untapped grounds for expansion of mutual cooperation such as purchase of oil tankers from Iran as well as existing joint oil wells which should be exploited by both countries," he pointed out.
The Iraqi oil minister invited all Iranian experts at the private sectors to take the opportunity to invest in the country's oil industry.
The Iranian ambassador, for his part, highlighted significance of the two sides' regional and international cooperation and voiced the readiness of the Islamic Republic of Iran to implement all the agreements, signed between the two countries for cooperation in the oil sector, and to contribute to implementation of the venture projects.
Welcoming the proposal offered by Iraqi minister for exploitation of joint oil wells, he said the issue would help restore security in the region.
In conclusion, the Iranian ambassador, underlining Iran's full determination to prevent fuel smuggling via its borders, extended an invitation to Iraqi oil minister to pay an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was welcomed by the Iraqi minister.