TEHRAN -- The Iraqi Minister Tourism and Antiquities Liwaa Sumaisem met the Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini on Sunday.

At the meeting, Hosseini lamented the limits imposed on the number of Iranian pilgrims traveling to Iraq’s religious sites in comparison to the demand based on the number of Iranians desiring to make pilgrimages.
He said that Iranian entrepreneurs are ready to promote tourist facilities in Iraq with the support of the Iraqi government. He also asked for improvements in the facilities to accommodate elderly and disabled Iranian pilgrims.
“We hope that the Iraqi government paves the way for Iranian pilgrims to visit religious sites in Syria as well,” he said.
He also announced that Iran is ready to boost ties with Iraq in other areas including cultural and artistic activities.
During the meeting, Hosseini officially invited his Iraqi counterpart to Iran.
Sumaisem said that Iraq aims to solve some problems of Iranian pilgrims by allocating additional flights from Tehran to Najaf and provide pilgrims with expanded facilities in the future.