In a meeting with Ambassador to Baghdad Hassan Danaeifar on Monday, Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi highlighted the importance of "security cooperation" between the two countries and said the new Iraqi government is ready to expand its relations with Iran, IRNA reported. Obeidi thanked Tehran for giving Iraq "effective" support in its campaign against terrorism. Danaeifar, for his part, congratulated the Iraqi government on its recent victories against Islamic State terrorists.