Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has officially welcomed Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi in Tehran, as the two sides prepare to discuss bilateral relations and sign cooperation agreements. The official welcoming ceremony was held on Thursday at the Sa'dabad Cultural-Historical Complex after al-Zaidi arrived in Tehran at the head of a high-ranking delegation earlier in the day.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, the ceremony began with the playing of the national anthems of Iran and Iraq, followed by an inspection of the honor guard. Members of the two countries' official delegations were then introduced, setting the stage for the upcoming discussions.

The Iraqi prime minister is scheduled to hold a private bilateral meeting with President Pezeshkian. This will be followed by a joint meeting between the two countries' high-ranking delegations, where they are expected to address various aspects of their bilateral relations.

The visit is also anticipated to culminate in the signing of documents aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation, marking a significant step forward in the relationship between Iran and Iraq.