“During the hard times when ISIL militants were targeting Erbil and Baghdad, Iran stood firmly by the Iraqi people and government,” said Masoud Barzani, expressing gratitude for the Islamic Republic’s aids and support to Iraq during the country’s recent crisis.
He referred to the many commonalties between the people of Iraqi Kurdistan and Iran and said, “we will always welcome Iran’s aid to the Kurdistan Region in Iraq and have had good relations with each other so far.”
Barzani also stressed that the Kurdistan Region in Iraq would endeavor to expand bilateral ties with Iran.
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, for his part, highlighted the sensitivity and graveness of the current situation in the terror-stricken Middle East adding that ‘all regional countries must feel responsibility’ in tackling terrorism in the region.
“At present, the process of regional developments has changed to some extent and the countries have now come to realize the sensitivity of this issue, although some still continue to aid the extremist groups,” said Larijani.
He deemed positive the Iraqi Kurdistan’s stand against terrorism in the region adding that ‘the Islamic Republic of Iran will definitely stand by your side.’
In the meeting, the two sides also touched upon expansion of trade ties and economic cooperation.
Visiting Iraq was the third and final leg of Ali Larijani’s regional tour launched on Dec. 22. His first destination was Syria during which he discussed latest regional developments with Bashar al-Assad and his government officials.
Ali Larijani accompanied by a high-ranking delegation continued his tour in Lebanon where they met with Hezbollah Leader Seyed Hassan Nasrallah and a number of Lebanese authorities.
Before heading to Kurdish region, Larijani had met with his Iraqi counterpart Salim al-Jabouri in Baghdad and discussed the regional crisis as well as expansion of bilateral ties in a joint press conference on Dec. 24.
MS/HRGH
MNA
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IRN/81438997
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