He said:”We have met Kurdistan province governor Ali Reza Shahabazi and have discussed Kirkuk situation with Kurdistan officials and Mr. Shahbazi has vowed to boost ties between the two provinces.”

“Kirkuk is not controlled by Kurdistan region and we follow Baghdad orders. I’m not a politician but as an Iraqi citizen I’m waiting to see Arbil-Baghdad tensions end,” Saleh told Kurdpress reporter on Friday in answering a question about tensions between Baghdad and Arbil.

Relations between Iran and Iraq and especially Kurdistan region and Kurdish areas have increased in the recent years and Iran is Iraq’s second trade partner after Turkey.

Saleh said Turkish goods are better sold in Iraq as they enjoy Europe standards, but Iranian goods are of a lower quality due to non- standard preserved substances used in thses foods.

In the recent months Iraq has deported some Iranian foods in the pretext that they are not well-qualified and suffer a lower standard compared with Turkey goods.