Iran’s Minister of Information and Communication Technology Seyed Sattar Hashemi has called for wider cooperation with Iraq in providing better communication network for pilgrims who are going to commemorate Arabaeen.
In a meeting with the Iraqi Ambassador to Iran Naseer Abdul
Mohsen Abdullah, Hashemi said a delegation will be dispatched to Iraq for
further cooperation to mark the religious event.
Arbaeen marks forty days after Ashura, which is the
martyrdom anniversary of Husayn ibn Ali, grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad
and the third imam of Shia Muslims.
“In recent years, effective cooperation has been established
between Iran and Iraq in the field of providing quality communications and broadband
services during Arbaeen,” said the Iranian minister, “’we have witnessed
desirable progress.”
He said increasing the level of communication cooperation
between the two countries during Arbaeen is necessary step to improve the
quality of pilgrims' communications, and added, “Representatives from this
ministry are traveling to Iraq for further coordination and meeting with local officials
and operators.”
Also referring to the ICT Ministry’s plan to strengthen
international cooperation under the title of technology diplomacy, Hashemi
emphasized the use of the two countries’ capacities to play the role of a
connecting link in the international transit route through Iran’s
infrastructure.
He introduced the capabilities of Iranian knowledge-based
companies and the growth of the digital economy in the country, terming these
areas as a suitable platform for joint cooperation between the private sectors
of the two countries.
“We hope that closer interaction between the private sectors
of Iran and Iraq will provide the basis for a more active and joint presence in
international markets,” he said.
In the meeting, the Iraqi envoy in Tehran referred to the
strong and extensive relations with Iran, especially during Arbaeen, and
describing any synergy in bilateral communications as constructive, called for
increased cooperation between the two countries.
He welcomed Hashemi’s proposal to utilize the capabilities
of Iranian knowledge-based companies and expressed hope that joint projects
would be formed in these areas.
Naseer Abdul Mohsen Abdullah expressed his confidence in the
coordination of the Iranian delegation's trip to hold a more magnificent
Arbaeen ceremony this year, and said: "We hope that this year's services
will be improved compared to previous years."