Iranian parliament speaker calls for unity among Iraqi groups

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani in a meeting with Senior Iraqi Lawmaker Ahmad Chalabi in Tehran underlined the need for Iraq's diverse ethnic groups to grow united to thwart foreign plots.During the meeting in Tehran on Thursday, the Iranian parliament speaker said that all Iraqi groups should do their best to prevent foreign intervention in their country through collaborating with each other."The Iraqi Shiite clerics have played a highly prominent role in helping the country weather junctures as well as political and security crises," Larijani said.The Iranian parliament speaker stressed importance of unity among the Iraqi political and ethnic groups.Chalabi, for his part, underscored Iran's important role in the establishment of peace and security in Iraq.Chalabi said that all the Iraqi groups, government and nation favor further expansion of ties with Iran.He, meantime, cautioned Iraqi nation against hostile attempts to stir religious-tribal conflicts in Iraq, and called for strengthening national solidarity to stem bloodshed.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.Earlier this month, Iranian Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi in a meeting with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi in Baghdad underlined the need for unity among Iraq's diverse ethnic groups in a bid to thwart foreign plots.During the meeting earlier this month, the Iranian intelligence minister said that all Iraqi groups should do their best to prevent foreign intervention in their country through collaborating with each other.Moslehi noted that the Iraqi Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds should join hands to prevent foreigners from achieving their mischievous goals in the Arab country.