Tehran, May 14, IRNA -- Chairman of Iran�s Expediency Council (EC) Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani underlined that Iran supports Iraq in all areas.

�The policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is to help the Iraqi government and nations in all areas,� Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani said in a meeting with Iraqi President Fouad Massoum in Tehran on Wednesday.

He noted that the time is now ripe different Iraqi sects, including Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds to maintain security of Iraq.

The Iraqi president, for his part, pointed to Iran�s good role in helping the Iraqi nation in different areas, and addressing Ayatollah Rafsanjani said, �You are one of the personalities that the Iraqi nation takes honor in.

Earlier today, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in a meeting with the visiting Iraqi president warned the Saudi regime against the repercussions of the relentless airstrikes against the Yemeni nation.

�The Saudis have committed a big mistake in Yemen and the consequences of the crimes they have committed will certainly backfire on them,� Ayatollah Khamenei said during the meeting attended by President Hassan Rouhani.

Ayatollah Khamenei further called the logic used by Saudi Arabia to attack Yemen as �silly�, and said, �They (the Saudis) attacked Yemen based on a request by the fugitive and ousted Yemeni president Mansour Hadi who committed treason against his country under the most volatile conditions.�

�The surge in terrorist activities in the Middle East benefits those seeking instability of the region and the presence of Takfiri groups in Syria and Iraq serves the interests of Israel,� he added.

The Leader, meantime, described the current state of relations between Iran and Iraq as �unprecedented� and called for closer relations between the two neighbors.

Ayatollah Khamenei said that given its status, Iraq can surely influence the regional issues and it should make use of its capacities more than before.

The Leader called Iran-Iraq relations as very deep and brotherly, and said, �The current relations of the two countries is unprecedented as compared with previous years and this trend shows the wisdom of the Iraqi brethren and it should keep on continuing like before.�

Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to President Massoum�s statements about Iraq-Iran relations, and said, �Iraq among Arab and Muslim countries has important and unique advantages.�

The Leader reiterated that coming to power of a popular and stable government in Iraq as a unique advantage for the Arab country, and said, �Different Iraqi officials and groups should strong safeguard this great advantage and do not let some probable differences to harm this historical achievement of Iraq.�

The Iraqi president, for his part, hailed the Leader�s role in strengthening relations between Tehran and Baghdad.

Massoum said the Iraqi government and nation will never forget the assistance provided by the Islamic Republic of Iran to their country in the most unbearable conditions, especially during the offensive by the ISIL terrorist group.

Iraqi president was officially welcomed by President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday morning.

This is the first visit of President Massoum to Iran since he took office last summer.

By IRNA