No obstacle to expand Iran-Iraq ties: Ahmadinejad

TEHRAN - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday that there is no barrier to the development of political, economic and cultural relations between Iran and Iraq, the local satellite Press TV reported.

Ahmadinejad made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki who arrived in Tehran on Sunday for a two-day official visit.

Ahmadinejad said Iran and Iraq should use all capacities to develop bilateral relations and solve regional issues in favor of their nations, said the report.

If Tehran and Baghdad are powerful, there will be no place in the region for the enemies "including the US and the Zionist regime of (Israel)," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying.

Al-Maliki, for his part, said Tehran and Baghdad can join hands in bolstering stability and security in the region and to overcome existing challenges through understanding and paying respect for the rights of all nations, said the report.