TEHRAN The Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramazan underlined that establishment of relations between Iran and Iraq is to the benefit of the two countries and the region. Ramazan, quoted by Radio Baghdad, said that his country is currently trying to prepare all possible grounds for restoration of ties with its neighboring country, Iran, through holding direct talks. Baghdad makes efforts to hold direct negotiations with Islamic Republic of Iran in a bid to accelerate normalization of Iran-Iraq relations, he added.

The Iraqi Deputy Premier Tareq Aziz has recently said that Iran and Iraq has made efforts since a few years ago to restore bilateral ties. Iraq is ready to resolve any remaining problem with Iran, he said.