Iranian foreign minister visits Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki arrived in Baghdad Wednesday to meet with top economic officials in the Iraqi government.

Mottaki led a delegation of high-ranking officials from Tehran on the heels of the 30th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

His three-day trip will focus on boosting economic ties between the two neighboring countries during a meeting scheduled with Iraqi Trade Minister Abdel Falah al-Sudani, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

The Iranian minister called for increased ties and bilateral agreements on a variety of issues, including preferential tariffs and customs relations.

Both countries have been in ongoing discussions regarding Shiite pilgrims who travel to Iraq from Iran to visit holy cities in the south.

Mottaki is scheduled to meet with top government officials during his stay in Iraq, including Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.

He also plans to visit with influential cleric Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, the leader of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council.

Mottaki's trip follows an earlier visit to Tehran by Maliki to discuss bilateral relations.