UPDATE - Iraq's al-Kadhimi meets Rouhani on Iran visit

Premier holds talks with Iranian president on ways to enhance bilateral relations

UPDATES HEADLINE, DECK, ADDS MORE DETAILS

By Ali Jawad

BAGHDAD (AA) - Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday on his first foreign trip since taking office in April.

"The Iranian president [Hassan Rouhani] held an official reception ceremony for al-Kadhimi and his accompanying delegation," the premier's media office said in a statement.

Talks between al-Kadhimi and Rouhani dwelt on ways to consolidate bilateral cooperation between the two countries in various fields, the statement said.

A source within the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said al-Kadhimi is accompanied by a delegation that includes the ministers of oil, defense, finance, foreign affairs and planning.

He was scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia on Monday, but the visit was postponed after King Salman's hospitalization.

*Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara

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