TEHRAN, Nov. 17 (MNA) – The Iraqi president has said that his country will not allow any country or group to use Iraq to damage the interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The President of Iraq made the remarks in a meeting with the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran Ali Shamkhani in Tehran on Saturday afternoon.

Pointing to the common goals and interests of the two countries, the Iraqi President emphasized the need to strengthen the mechanisms for the expansion of cooperation in various fields, noting “we will not allow any country or group to hurt the interests of the Iran using Iraq.”

The Iraqi president arrived in Tehran on Saturday morning for an official visit and has so far met with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani as well as the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Khamenei.

Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, for his part, offered his congratulations on the election of Barham Salih as the Iraqi president, adding that the new Iraqi leadership can pave the way for deepening fully-fledged relations between the two brother and friend countries of Iraq and Iran.

Shamkhani noted that the United States and some reactionary countries in the region are trying to mar the friendly relations between the two nations but their attempts are doomed to failure.

The top Iranian security official went on to hail the Iraqi nation and government’s victory over terrorism, saying that Iraqi army, and other security forces, especially the Popular Mobilization Forces could successfully overcome the biggest threat against the region.

Shmakhani also expressed his gratitude to the Iraq people and government for their hospitality during the last Arbaeen pilgrimage.  

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