TEHRAN -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday called for unity among Iraqi political and ethnic groups against terrorism challenges.
Khamenei hailed what he called the resistance of the Iraqis against the threats of terrorism. "One of the main features of the Iraqi people in their fight against terrorism was bravery and power of volunteer groups," he was quoted as saying by official IRNA news agency.
Terrorism in Iraq is ephemeral. It can be solved if Shiites and Sunnis, as well as Kurds and Arabs unite against their enemies, he said in a meeting with the visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.
"The Iraqi people should be aware of the plots to divide them," Iran will continue to support the Iraqi nation and its legal government, Khamenei added.
Iran's all-out support to Iraq is the sign of the depth of amicable relations between two neighbors, al-Abadi said.
"The enemies of Iraq have gathered all their force to sow ethnic and religious discords among the Iraqi people, but the government and the people are resolute to counter the plots and to preserve the national unity," he was quoted as saying.
On Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani echoed Khamenei's remarks, saying "no doubt the security and stability of Iran is intertwined with those of Iraq."
Iran and Iraq relations are strategic and the enhancement of bilateral relations will both benefit the two nations and the whole region, Rouhani said.
Rouhani said some self-serving countries are trying to plant discord among Iraqi people, while hailing the Iraqi government for building unity among various religious and ethnic groups.
All efforts should be directed at creating national solidarity in Iraq to disappoint the enemies. Iran will continue to stay by the side of Iraq in its fight against terrorism, Rouhani said.
For his part, al-Abadi said that the terrorists of the Islamic State (IS) are struggling to destroy the cultural heritage of the country, but the nation and government in unison will continue to withstand them. "In their struggle against terrorism, they (Iraqi people) seek the help and supports of their friends," he said.
Al-Abadi arrived in Iran's capital Tehran on Wednesday for talks, mulling ways to fight terrorism and Iran's role to help unity among religious and ethnic groups in his country.
During Al-Abadi's first visit to Iran last October, Iranian officials reassured him that Tehran would give full support to the war-torn country against terrorists.
Iraqi President Fuad Masum said in May that relations between the two neighboring countries were "strategic." Iran was the first country which helped Iraq in fighting the terrorists of the Islamic State (IS), Masum said.
Iran has forged close ties with Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.
Iranian officials have offered military consultations to the Iraqi army to stop the advancement of the IS militants in the country. Enditem
