Iranian Foreign Minister visits Iraq

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki arrived in Iraq for a two-day visit amid rising tension over the border between the two countries.

Mottaki will meet Iraqi senior state officials and discuss security cooperation and try to outline a definitive border between the two countries. He will not meet Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. Many Iraqis remain suspicious of their neighbor because Iranian troops have been stationed along the border since last December.

Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari (3rd R) receives his Iranian  counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki (C) and his delegation at Baghdad International Airport in Baghdad January 7, 2010.REUTERS/Mohammed Ameen

Mottaki's visit may also fuel suspicions held by some Iraqi politicians. They think Iran is trying to influence polls scheduled for this March.