Iraq is Iran’s strategic neighbor: Majlis speaker

July 20, 2012 - 16:26
TEHRAN – In a meeting in Tehran on Wednesday, Iranian Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani and Barham Saleh, the prime minister of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan region in Iraq, held talks on various issues, including bilateral ties and the latest developments in the region.
 
Larijani emphasized the importance of unity among all Iraqi groups in the critical situation that the region is experiencing and said that Iraq is an important and strategic country to the Islamic Republic. 
 
He said that Tehran has always supported efforts to promote unity and cooperation between various Iraqi ethnic groups.  
 
Discord between various Iraqi groups at this juncture will be to the detriment of security and stability in the country, Larijani said.
 
He also expressed satisfaction with the fact that Iraq currently holds the rotating presidency of the Arab League and said that this provides a good opportunity to strengthen Iraq’s position in the region and the world.
 
During the meeting, Saleh also called for the consolidation of relations between Iran and Iraq’s Kurdistan region and said that Kurdish leaders are determined to cement ties with the Islamic Republic in all areas.