IRI President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a visiting Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister that a safe and secure Iraq would benefit the entire Middle East.



President Ahmadinejad also assured Barham Salih Sunday that the Iranian people and government will do their utmost to help stabilize Iraq.



He stated that all the regional countries must make progress because that would benefit all governments in the Middle East.



The President said that any threat of any nature was both to the detriment of the regional nations and governments, adding that enemies tend to incite insecurity in the region whereas the nations can foil their conspiracy through unity and fraternity.



Salih for his part said that fraternity has always been a major principle in IRI-Iraq relations.



He praised Iran for standing beside the Iraqi nation during difficult times, adding it is something that the Iraqi people will never forget.



This is Salih's first visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran since assuming the post of KRG prime minister. His last visit to Tehran was in August 2008, when he was Iraq's deputy prime minister.



On Saturday, Salih met with Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, and a number of other high-ranking Iranian officials.