Baku, Azerbaijan, July 18
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani discussed the ongoing crisis in Iraq with Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki.
The Iranian official in the meeting with al-Maliki congratulated the Iraqi nation and government for "their victories in their campaign against the Takfiri terrorists," Iran's official IRNA news agency reported on July 18.
Prime Minister al-Maliki, in his turn appreciated Iran's spiritual support and offer of dispatching any type of assistance that Iraq might deem a necessary in that campaign.
Iraqi forces are fighting against Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) militants, who have taken control of large areas of the country and threatened to take the battle to the capital, Baghdad.
The Iraqi prime minister went on to say that the establishment of the new parliament and the election of the new Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri were important and effective steps towards the country's political development and participation of various political factions in the country's ongoing crisis management.
Shamkhani who was welcomed by Faleh Fayyaz, the National Security advisor of the Iraqi government reiterated Iran's support for Iraq's unity, integrity, security and the ongoing political process in the country upon his arrival to Baghdad airport.
Fayyaz for his turn, called for expansion of bilateral ties with Iran in the all fields.
He also appreciated Iran's position towards Iraq and its support for fighting against "terrorists".