TEHRAN –Tehran and Baghdad have recently discussed parameters that would lead to closer ties in the realms of tourism and cultural heritage.

On Sunday, Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Minister Ezzatollah Zarghami met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani to examine ways to safeguard antiquities and ancient heritage, Mehr reported.

Religious tourism and mutual facilities for Iranian and Iraqi citizens were also discussed during the meeting which was also attended by Iranian Ambassador to Iraq Mohammad Kazem Al-Sadegh, the report said.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Iraq constituted Iran’s largest source of tourists. In return, hundreds of thousands of Iranian pilgrims head for the holy Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala each year to attend the Arbaeen pilgrimage, aka the Arbaeen trek, to mark an end to the 40-day mourning period following the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Zarghami arrived in the Iraqi capital on Saturday night to attend the 6th Forum of Ancient Civilizations.

Representatives from Greece, China, Egypt, Italy, Peru, Bolivia, Armenia, and Mexico are among the participants. According to organizers, dialogues and cultures are exchanged between the member states of the forum, at the governmental level, to capitalize on the importance of civilized and cultural communication for the economic and social development of the participating countries.

The Ancient Civilizations Forum seeks to enhance international exchanges; improve the multilateral cooperation mechanism; protect the diversity of cultural heritage and world culture; uphold the legacy and progress of civilization and inspire the vitality of the wisdom of ancient civilization to provide a solution to solve the problem in the current era.

AFM