Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said backing the Iraqi government is the only way to help the Arab country overcome its challenges.
"Supporting Iraq's national unity government, which is the symbol of unity among various ethnic groups including Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis, is the only way to help resolve the current problems," Larijani said in a meeting with Barham Ahmed Salih, former prime minister of Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government, in Tehran on Sunday, IRNA reported.
The senior lawmaker pointed to the "warm" and "brotherly" relations between the two countries' people and officials, underlining the need to make joint efforts to help deal with the problems facing the crisis-hit Arab nation.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has always stood by the Iraqi nation and government and is ready to provide any sort of assistance."
Commenting on the idea of splitting Iraq and Syria which has been floated by some western officials, Larijani said, "(The political) naivety of some western leaders has caused them to think that they will be able to solve their problems in the region by dividing countries, while such thinking is completely wrong."
"The Islamic Republic of Iran's policy on Iraq is to support its territorial integrity and help promote unity and empathy among various Iraqi groups, including Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis, as Iraq is able to overcome its existing problems only through maintaining unity and cohesion."
On regional issues, he said, "The ongoing developments have boosted terrorism in the region, and countries should not think that they can achieve their objectives by using terrorist groups as a tool."
Salih, for his part, thanked Iran for providing the Iraqis with humanitarian aid and giving the Iraqi government and nation full support.
"The motivation of Iraqi fighters in their campaign against Daesh (the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) increases day by day, and stability and calm will return to Iraq in the near future," he noted.
In addition, the Kurdish politician said terrorism and extremism are "a major blight" afflicting the region, which can be addressed only through cooperation between regional countries.
