Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei has said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is satisfied with the growing power of Iraq in the region and the Arab world.

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei has said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is satisfied with the growing power of Iraq in the region and the Arab world.

The Leader made his remarks Monday while receiving the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and the accompanying delegation in Tehran, Iranian State-run news agency SANA reported.

His eminence said that some developments in recent months epitomized the power of the Iraqi nation and government in the Arab world.

“The full withdrawal of the U.S. forces from Iraqi soil is one of these events, which was a great and important success achieved through the will and resistance of the Iraqi government and people,” Iranian Mehr news agency quoted the Supreme Leader as saying.

“Hosting the Arab League’s summit was another example which showed Iraq’s growing power,” went on to say, adding that “certain sides made enormous efforts to show that Iraq is outside the Arab world, but with holding the Arab League’s summit in Baghdad, Iraq is currently at the top of the league, and the Iraqi prime minister has assumed the presidency of the Arab League.”

During the meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei also noted that the future of the Iraqi people is brighter than the current situation.

For his part, Maliki said that Iran-Iraq relations in various areas have increased, while economic delegations hold their regular meetings.

Maliki also expressed hope that his talks in Tehran would prepare the ground for increased cooperation between Tehran and Baghdad.