TEHRAN – Minister of Science, Research, and Technology, Mohammad-Ali Zolfigol, has appointed Nader Nourmohammadi as the country's science attaché in Iraq.

Identifying capacities and scientific facilities in Iraq and fostering scientific connections and cooperation with universities and research institutions in Iran with a specific focus on attracting students and technologists are among the main responsibilities of the appointed science attaché, IRNA reported.

Boosting educational co-op

In May 2023, Iraqi Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Naeem Al-Aboudi, said many Iraqi youths are interested in continuing their higher education in Iran.

Now the demand for studying in Iran is very high and a large number of Iraqi students are interested in continuing their higher education in Iran as a friendly and neighboring country, he added.

The Iraqi official made the remarks in a meeting in Tehran with Zolfigol, IRNA reported.

He pointed out that some 75,000 Iraqi nationals are currently studying in Iranian universities.

“The scientific abilities and capacities of the two countries require that we boost cooperation in the field of science and research, and in this field, we need detailed planning and the formation of special working groups,” Al-Aboudi highlighted.

Zolfigol, for his part, while emphasizing the need to increase joint scientific exchanges between Iran and Iraq and holding joint seminars, said holding a joint meeting between heads of universities and research and technology centers of the two countries can help increase cooperation.

In July 2022, the Iranian deputy science minister Vahid Haddadi-Asl said from among Islamic and neighboring countries, Iran puts priority on increasing academic cooperation with Iraq.

In a meeting with Iraqi Ambassador to Tehran Naseer Abdul Mohsen Abdullah, he said Iraq has the largest number of foreign nationals studying in Iran, so removing their problems is one of the most important missions of the science ministry, IRNA reported.

MT/MG

Photo: Science minister Mohammad-Ali Zolfigol