Iran, Iraq call for enhanced relations

On Monday, head of the Iraqi parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee Humam al-Hamoudi met with Chairman of Iran’s Majlis Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy Alaeddin Boroujerdi.

Hamoudi said Iraq’s new parliament supports the expansion of bilateral relations with Iran.

He further pointed to the upcoming presidential election in Syria, and stressed the importance of settling the Syria crisis through political approaches.

Hamoudi praised Iran’s success in holding the second meeting of heads of parliamentary foreign policy committees of friends of Syria countries.

Over 25 countries sent their representatives to the Syria conference, which was held on June 1 in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

Boroujerdi, for his part, termed Iran-Iraq ties as “brotherly and good” and underlined the necessity for the expansion of mutual cooperation between the two countries.

He expressed Majlis support for the promotion of Tehran-Baghdad relations.

The Iranian lawmaker further congratulated the Iraqi people and government on the successful holding of parliamentary elections.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is expected to remain in office for a third term with his party having reportedly won a majority of the seats in the April elections.