Iraqi-Iranian relations have leading role in Region’s security – Iranian official

BAGHDAD / Iraqi News: The Secretary of the Supreme Iranian Security Council, Saeed Jalili, who conferred with Iraq‘s visiting Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, has said today that “strengthening relations between Iran and Iraq shall play an active role in the Region’s Security,” according to the Iranian Mehr News Agency. Mehr quoted Jalili as saying that strengthening the strategic relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq shall play an active role in achieving security in the Region. He expressed hope that the formation of the new Iraqi government in the nearest possible time would achieve democracy, according to the Iraqi Constitution. Iraqi Prime Miniser Nouri al-Maliki, who visited Syria and Jordan before his visit to Tehran, said that “the Iraqi people are patiently waiting for the formation of the Iraqi government that chooses to render public services,” expressing hope that the formation of the government would take place in the nearest possible time. Prime Minister Maliki had concluded a short visit to Jordan on Sunday, where he met Jordan‘s King Abdullah II, in his second visit to Iraq‘s neighboring states after his visit to Syria last Wednesday. He conferred in Tehran with the Supreme Religious Authority, Ali Khamanei, at a time when the political arena is witnessing differences among the four main Iraqi blocs that won March 7th nationwide elections. The elections results had caused sharp competition for the new prime minister’s post and formation of the new government, especially between the two largest election winners, Al-Iraqiya bloc, led by former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi and the State of Law bloc, led by outgoing Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki.