An agreement to import two million barrels on a monthly basis from Iraq will be signed soon, Petroleum Minister Tareq el Mulla said on Thursday.

Negotiations are still underway between the two countries over the deal, Mulla said.

Mulla added that he met with Iraqi Ambassador here Habib al Sadr Wednesday to discuss the signing of the contract.

He further stressed the importance of strategic cooperation between Cairo and Baghdad in the petroleum field.