ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Syria is yet to decide on a date and time for Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani to visit Baghdad, Syrian state media reported on Friday.

The report by the Syrian state owned outlet SANA said that the foreign ministry’s media office had told them that they had received an official invitation for Shaibani to visit Baghdad, however it was down to deciding the “best time” for the visit.

Speaking to The New Region, a source from the Iraqi Foreign Ministry on Friday evening said that they were yet to receive an official notice from the Syrian side indicating the cancelation of Shaibani’s anticipated visit.

Shaibani was initially reported to be visiting Baghdad on Saturday and meet a number of the country’s top officials, including Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, President Abdul Latif Rashid, Parliamentary Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein.

Security, border control, counterterrorism, economy, and other issues were expected to be discussed during the Syrian foreign minister’s trip.

Shaibani’s scheduled trip to Baghdad was met with a lot of criticism from Iraq’s Shiites and pro-Iran armed groups and political factions.

“Shaibani's movements in Baghdad will witness strict security measures for fear of any targeting operation that he may be exposed to, which may have repercussions on future bilateral relations,” a well-informed source told The New Region earlier on Friday.

Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai earlier this month, Shaibani said that he has received an official invitation from Iraq and will visit Baghdad “soon”.

Shaibani was reportedly set to visit the Iraqi capital in early January, but the trip was postponed indefinitely. The visit would mark the first of a delegation from the new Syrian administration to the neighboring country, as the two sides slowly work toward establishing ties.

The Iraqi government, closely aligned with Iran, supported Assad’s regime, and has been hesitant in establishing ties with the new authorities in Syria. An Iraqi delegation, headed by Intelligence Service chief Hamid al-Shatri, arrived in Damascus in late December and met with the new Syrian administration, including Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.