Baghdad: Finance Minister Falih Sari met on Saturday with US Charg© d’Affaires Steven Fagin to discuss accelerating projects undertaken by US companies in Iraq. The Minister emphasized that Iraq’s approach to its relations with various nations is grounded in the country’s supreme interests.

According to Iraqi News Agency, a statement from the Ministry noted that “Finance Minister Falih Sari received US Charg© d’Affaires to Iraq Steven Fagin and his accompanying delegation, reviewing bilateral relations and ways to enhance economic and financial cooperation.” During the meeting, the Minister affirmed that “Iraq’s conduct of relations with various countries is based on the nation’s supreme interests,” highlighting “the Iraqi government’s commitment to maintaining a balanced relationship with the United States, founded on mutual interests.”

The Minister called upon US companies operating in the oil and energy sectors to “accelerate the implementation of their projects in Iraq, thereby boosting foreign investment and supporting the development of vital sectors within the country.” For his part, the US Charg© d’Affaires described the Iraqi government delegation’s visit to Washington last July as “highly successful,” stressing “the importance of capitalizing on and building upon the visit’s outcomes to strengthen avenues of cooperation between the two nations.”