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Iran FM calls for cooperation to maintain security in region

BAGHDAD, July 27 (KUNA) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has called for cooperation to maintain what he described as "collective security" of the region's countries.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Iraqi counterpart Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, Zarif said Monday that the Iranian people and government are standing behind Iraq in its war against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
He said that Iraq stands in the first line of the fight against terrorism and extremism, calling on all region's countries to cooperation to counter these phenomena.
He also stressed the need for solidarity and unified actions to establish peace and stability in the region.
As for the nuclear agreement reached last week in Vienna between his country and the world powers (P5+1), he added that it addressed some problems related to the region's countries.
He went on to say that it was high time to hold a dialogue among the region's countries in which all participants will win, reiterating that the dialogue aims to counter seriously extremism.
He added the region's countries have common culture, religion, geography and history, referring that the terrorist organizations, including ISIL, distort the image of Islam.
Zarif affirmed that Iran gives a message to the region's countries that it is ready to cooperate with them so as to counter terrorism and extremism.
He said that the security of any country in the region is part of Iran's security, adding Tehran does not pose a threat to any country in the region.
On his part, Al-Jaafari said that the nuclear agreement will have a positive impact on the security and economic situations in the region.
He added that Iraq have friendly relations with the region's countries and Iran as well, noting his country will work on promoting these relations to serve the interest of all peoples.
He emphasized that ISIL poses a real threat to the world's countries, boasting that Iraq is combating terrorism on behalf of the world.
Iran's top diplomat arrived in Iraq on Monday morning as part of a regional tour that took him to Kuwait and Qatar on Sunday. (Pickup previous) mhg.hm