TEHRAN -- The Iranian defense minister says defense cooperation between Iran and Iraq is “unavoidable”.

Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan made the remarks in a meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Khalid al-Obeidi.
“We are here to prove our will in carrying out the agreements made and expanding mutual cooperation,” stated Dehqan who arrived in Baghdad on Monday.

He reiterated a call for cooperation between Tehran and Baghdad in facing regional threats.

Also in a meeting with the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al Ibadi, he asserted that Iran has stood by the Iraqi nation and government to thwart menaces of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorists and will continue to do so as long as the Iraqi government and nation request.

Dehqan conveyed the warm greetings of the Iranian first vice president to the Iraqi premier and said that the two countries' high level relations provide a good pattern for amicable neighborly relations.

“The Iranian Supreme Leader, president, government, and nation have always supported the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Iraq and will for good support the full establishment of security and stability in your country,” said the Iranian defense chief.

SP/P