Iran, Iraq review expansion of defense cooperation

Tehran, June 9, IRNA - Visiting Iraqi Defense Minister Lieutenant General Abdul Qadir Mohammed Jassim Obeidi conferred on Sunday with his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar on expansion of defense cooperation between the two countries. At the meeting, the Iranian minister highlighted the strategic status of Iran and Iraq and said consolidation and bolstering defense ties between the two countries would bring security to the entire region. Expansion of defense cooperation between Iran and Iraq would play a significant role in safeguarding peace, stability as well as ensuring durable security in the region, he said. Both Iran and Iraq are highly capable of broadening and bolstering mutual relations mainly in defense and security affairs, Najjar said. Iran's principles are based on supporting the legal Iraqi government, he said adding that the country is to support Iraqi military forces restore security in the war-shattered country. He expressed the hope that the current visit of the Iraqi defense minister would lead to expansion of defense cooperation between the two sides. The Iraqi defense minister, for his part, expressed satisfaction with his current visit to Tehran and underlined the need for expansion of defense relations between the two countries. Rebuilding a new powerful army in Iraq requires benefiting from Iran's invaluable experience and capabilities, he said. "We try to make the Iraqi army independent," he underlined. Friendly ties between Iran and Iraq would be to the benefit of security and stability of the region, he said. At the meeting, the two sides also discussed expansion of defense cooperation and agreed to continue exchange of visits by defense officials of the two countries. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maleki heading a high ranking delegation arrived in Tehran on Saturday afternoon. Iraqi ministers of finance, defense, water resources, electricity are accompanying the Iraqi premier. - End