President of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Masoud Barzani has asked Iran to continue supporting and assisting Iraqi Kurdistan.
"We have always called for Iran's support and help for Iraq's Kurdistan Region and have had good relations (with Iran)," Barzani said in a meeting with Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani in Erbil on Friday, Fars news agency reported.
"During difficult times when Daesh (the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) was threatening Erbil and Baghdad, Iran stood by the Iraqi government and nation. This approach is praiseworthy," he said.
He went on to say that Iraqi Kurdistan will make efforts to increase ties with Iran.
On the issue of terrorism, he said the situation which has been created in the region by terrorists is "critical" and "serious", adding that all countries in the region have a responsibility to address the challenge.
"The course of security developments in the region has changed to some extent and countries have realized the sensitivity of the situation, although some countries continue providing aid to extremist groups," he said.
Larijani, for his part, described Iraqi Kurdistan's approach toward the campaign against terrorism as "positive", and said the Islamic Republic will certainly stand by the Iraqi people.
The top lawmaker also called for increased trade ties with Iraq's Kurdistan Region.
Upon arrival in Tehran on late Friday after a six-day regional tour which took him to Syria, Lebanon and Iraq, Larijani told reporters that in his meetings, it was evident that officials of the three Arab countries share views with Iran on major regional issues.
He said the main purpose of the tour was to discuss the ways to deal with terrorism because the phenomenon is the most important "blight" that has plagued the region.
The "political and security aspects" of the issue were examined in detail in the discussions, he added.
