Iranian foreign minister in Iraq amid border tensions

Baghdad - Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki arrived in Iraq Thursday amid tensions over the border between the two countries, a source in Iraq's foreign ministry said. Mottaki's visit comes less than a month after tensions broke out over an oil well along the southern Iraqi-Iranian border.

In December, Iranian soldiers reportedly seized the al-Fakkah oil field along the two countries' disputed border. Iraqis in several cities have held demonstrations demanding their government take action.

Later, the Iraqi company responsible for developing the wells, Naft Maysan Company, said that all wells on the al-Fakkah oil field were under Iraqi control. Some 15 Iranian soldiers could be seen about 50 meters from the well.

Mottaki and his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari are expected to hold a joint press conference after their meeting.

Al-Sabah daily newspaper reported on Thursday that "the conflict over the al-Fakkah oil field will be the main topic discussed, as well as bilateral ties and security and economic cooperation."

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/302497,iranian-foreign-minister-in-iraq-amid-border-tensions.html.