Iran supports the public demands and opposes interference in the internal affairs of other countries, including in Bahrain

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has called for a 'collective' regional solution to the conflicts in the Middle East, particularly in Bahrain.

“Regional developments need a collective solution and the [regional] countries should exchange views on finding peaceful ways out of Bahrain's conflict,” Salehi said at a joint press conference with the leader of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, Ammar al-Hakim, Mehr news agency reported Wednesday.

“Regarding Iraq's position in the Arab and Islamic countries, we hope to reach joint decisions on regional developments through consultations,” he added.

Salehi and Hakim also held a meeting before the joint press conference on Wednesday, during which they exchanged views on regional developments and condemned the military invasion of Bahrain as 'unacceptable.'

Salehi also met with Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi and Iraqi former Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari on the same day.

In the meeting with Abdul-Mahdi, Salehi pointed out that Iran supports the public demands and opposes interference in the internal affairs of other countries. The top Iranian official also praised the Iraqi government's support of the Bahrainis.

Abdul-Mahdi, for his part, called for the fulfillment of public demands in Bahrain and said that the military invasion of Bahrain has complicated the situation in the crisis-hit country.

In the meeting with Jaafari, Salehi reiterated Iran's opposition to the military invasion of Bahrain. “The military invasion of Bahrain runs counter to its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. We believe the Bahraini issue does not have a military solution and the lawful public demands should be addressed wisely and tactfully.”

Salehi paid a one-day official visit to Iraq on Wednesday to discuss regional developments amongst a host of other issues with senior Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.