The Chairman of Iran's Expediency Council has said that the enemies cannot undermine the full-fledged cooperation between Iran and Iraq.

"Iran and Iraq have strong historical and religious bonds which cannot be undermined by enemies," Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said in a meeting with Iraqi Ambassador to Iran Mohammad Majid al-Sheikh.

Rafsanjani said Iran wants a free and independent Iraq without any sectarian, religious or tribal strife.

He added Iran and Iraq share common interests and enemies, reiterating that Iraq's neighbors would benefit from peace and development in the country.

Majid al-Sheikh, for his part, said Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's visit to Iran helped the expansion of ties between the two countries.

"Iraq hopes to restore peace and security in the country with the help of its neighbors,” he added.

AKM/HGH/RE