16 October 2010 - 20:30

A senior Iranian security official asked Iraqi officials to provide better facilities and services for the Iranian pilgrims in the country

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - A senior Iranian security official asked Iraqi officials to provide better facilities and services for the Iranian pilgrims in the country.  

The issue was raised during a meeting between Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Saeed Jalili and visiting Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad al-Bulani here in Tehran on Saturday afternoon.

Referring to the existing problems for transferring Iranian pilgrims, Jalili called for more efforts of the Iraqi government to provide security and increase facilities, especially in border areas between the two countries.

The request by the Iranian official came days after at least seven Iranian nationals were injured in Iraq's Muqdadiyah town in Diyala province when a roadside bomb ravaged a bus carrying Iranian pilgrims to the holy shrines in the Shiite cities of Karbala and Najaf.

Iraq has been suffering attacks on an almost daily basis in the chaos that followed the US-led invasion of the country in 2003.

Iraqi civilians and security forces as well as mostly-Iranian pilgrims have increasingly been under such attacks in recent months.

Jalili, who is also Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, further expressed the hope that with promotion of security in Iraq after departure of the occupiers, Iraqi nation and government would witness growing success in all fields.

During the meeting, the Iraqi minister presented a report on security conditions in his country after withdrawal of the US forces, appreciated Iran's brotherly help.

Bulani also called for strengthening bilateral cooperation and transferring Iran's experiences in the field of security affairs.

End item/ 159