Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, (KRG.org) - Kurdistan Region President, Massoud Barzani, on Friday received Mr. Ali Larijani, Speaker of the Iranian parliament and his accompanying delegation, which included several Members of Parliament, advisors and Iranian Consul General in Erbil, Murtaza Abadi.

In the meeting, President Barzani described the visit as a new phase in bilateral relations between Kurdistan Region and Islamic Republic of Iran and thanked the people and the Government of Iran for supporting the Kurdistan Region during the difficult times in the past as in its current fight against the Islamic State terrorist organisation, known as ISIS.

President Barzani pointed out that terrorism is a threat to every nation. Defeating and eliminating it require collaboration despite political differences between countries.

The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament explained that the purpose of his visit is to directly exchange ideas about the threat, which poses terrorism. He said that his country takes the threats seriously and as the terrorists target everyone, the regional countries must play their efficient role in fighting them.

Mr. Ali Larijani expressed his contentment for the fact that Kurdistan Region is both serious and successful in its fight against terrorism and considered his country’s support to Kurdistan Region as a friendship duty.

The two sides also stressed strengthening bilateral political, cultural and economic relations as well as protecting mutual interests.

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker, Dr. Yousif Mohammed, Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council, Masrour Barzani, Kurdistan Parliament’s Deputy Speaker of Kurdistan Parliament, Jaafar Emniki, KRG Minister of Peshmerga Affairs, Mustafa Said Qadir, KRG Minister of Interior, Karim Sinjari, KRG Spokesperson, Safeen Dizayee, Head of KRG Department of Foreign Relations, Falah Mustafa, and Erbil Governor, Nawzad Hadi were also present at the meeting.