Rafsanjani: Enemies of Islam do their best to prevent Iran-Iraq unity

Tehran, Nov 14, IRNA – Chairman of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on Monday that the enemies of Islam and Shia do their best to prevent formation of unity between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq. Rafsanjani made the remarks in a meeting with the former Iraqi Vice-President Khazir al-Khazaei in Tehran on Monday. 'We hoped that after fall of Saddam we would have witnessed expansion of relations and cooperation under a calm and secure atmosphere but regretfully regional conflicts lowered gear of such cooperation,' he said. Both sides should make use of existing capabilities to strengthen Islam and regional countries, especially Iran and Iraq,' he said. 'Be careful remains of terrorists are not dispersed in your cities.' The Iraqi envoy, for his part said politicians say Iran is the gate for the world towards East and Iraq is the key of the gate, he said. Unprecedented leadership of the late Imam Khomeini and significant role of high officials such as His Excellency Ayatollah Rafsanjani will remain in the history for ever for founding a way out for Iran from difficulties, he said. In the meeting, he also briefed Rafsanjani on the latest political, economic, cultural, social and security problems facing Iraqi nation and said Iraq is determined to overcome all the challenges and threats successfully. 1378/IRNA