TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a meeting with Iraq-based Muslim religious leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on Monday discussed the latest developments in the crisis-hit country.Zarif arrived in the holy city of Najaf earlier today to exchange views with Ayatollah al-Sisitani to discuss ways to soothe the ongoing crisis in the Muslim country.
The Iranian foreign minister plans to also meet with other grand Shiite clerics in Iraq, including Ayatollah al-Fayadh, Ayatollah Bashir Najafi and Ayatollah Hakim.
Zarif arrived in Baghdad on Sunday to meet the country's new cabinet members to felicitate them on their appointment and start of work as the new Iraq government and discuss bilateral and regional developments as well as the latest security conditions in Iraq.
Several high-ranking Iranian officials congratulated Al-Abadi and the Iraqi nation on his appointment as the new premier last week and expressed their support for the new government.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei hailed the appointment of the new Iraqi premier, saying that enemies' plot to push Iraq into further chaos through political disputes over premiership would be foiled once the new cabinet starts work.
Following Iran's approach, Maliki also dropped his bid and voiced support for al-Abadi in a show of unity which is much needed in the crisis-hit country which has come under a surge of terrorist attacks by savage Takfiri terrorists of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the last few months.
Iran and Iraq have enjoyed growing ties ever since the overthrow of the former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, during the 2003 US invasion of the Muslim country.
Iraq's Foreign Minister Houshyar Zebari was in Tehran in February. During his stay in the Iranian capital, Zebari and Zarif discussed mutual cooperation on economy and trade as well as joint efforts to address environmental issues.
By Fars News Agency
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