SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called for enhancing security and stability of the region in a phone call on Saturday.
Kadhimi received a phone call from Rouhani on Saturday afternoon, according to the premier’s office. The two leaders discussed means to develop bilateral relations at various fields.
They also called on “all actors in the region to enhance calm through wisdom in dealing with regional crises and challenges,” the statement read.
Kadhimi and Rouhani agreed that “dialogue is the only way to solve conflicts and crises in the region”, the statement said.
Kadhimi’s office said Rouhani condemned “all activities committed by some groups that disturb the security of Iraq”, referring to recent rocket attacks targeting bases housing U.S.-led Coalition forces in the country.
Mehr News Agency cited Rouhani as saying that the security, integrity and peace in Iraq “is a priority for Iran”.
“We are against any kind of foreign intervention in Iraq’s internal affairs and we consider it detrimental to the country and the entire region,” Rouhani said.
The Iranian president also stressed the need for the “immediate release” of Iranian foreign currency blocked in Iraq due to U.S. sanctions on Tehran.
“Billions of dollars that Iraqi officials have promised to release remain blocked in Iraqi banks,” state news agency IRNA cited Rouhani as saying.
