Iran welcomes inclusive Iraqi govt.

Iran’s caretaker foreign minister welcomes inclusion of Iraqi groups in the country’s new government, saying the move could add to the power and influence of Iraq.

During a meeting with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad on Wednesday, Ali Akbar Salehi said that Tehran attaches great importance to expansion of ties with Baghdad.

“There is ample capacity for cooperation between the two sides and Iran has often voiced its willingness to participate in Iraqi reconstruction projects,” IRIB quoted the Iranian top diplomat as saying.

Maliki, for his part, underlined that the new Iraqi government will continue the task of rebuilding the war-torn country.

“We want to take big steps for cementing bilateral ties and form a joint commission in Baghdad to pave the way for effective bilateral cooperation,” the Iraqi prime minister said.

Before his talks with Maliki, Salehi met with his Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.

Tehran believes in non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, Salehi told reporters at a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart.

Zebari for his part described the bilateral relations between the Persian Gulf neighbors as “positive” and called for promoting the “broad” relations between the two Muslim countries.

He told the press that he and Salehi discussed “in detail” issues related to the terrorist Mujahedeen Khalq Organization (MKO) that Iran wants expelled from Iraq.

The MKO — many of whose supporters live in a camp north of Baghdad — supported executed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in his bloody war against Iran and also cracking down on Iraq’s Kurds.

It is listed as a terrorist organization by much of the international community and is responsible for numerous acts of terror and violence against Iranian civilians and government officials.

“Our constitution doesn’t allow any armed group on our land that launches attacks and assaults on neighboring countries,” Zebari said. “We are determined to deal with this issue…There were some good suggestions to put an end to it,” he said without providing further details.

Upon his arrival in the Iraqi capital, Salehi said Iran attaches importance to Iraq’s security and independence, highlighting Tehran’s readiness to support the new Iraqi government.

“Iran provides the Iraqi government and people with all-out support,” Salehi told reporters. “Iran supports the strengthening of Iraqi stability, independence, territorial integrity and national sovereignty,” the Iranian official insisted.