Iran supports Iraq's new government

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that the Islamic republic fully supports the new Iraqi government, local media reported.

The current situation in Syria and in Iraq is the result of " irresponsible policies" of some trans-regional powers and some regional countries, Khamenei said in a meeting with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, Tasnim news agency reported.

Khamenei added the Iraqi people and government are well capable of dealing with the security problems in the country and have no need to re-establish security with the help of foreign countries.

He further described Iraq as a "great, important and influential country in the region" and underlined Iran's decisive support for the new government in Iraq.

For his part, the Iraqi leader appreciated the support offered by the Islamic republic in his country's fight against terrorism, and said he was pleased to visit Iran in his first official trip abroad after forming Iraq's new government.

Earlier on Saturday, Iraqi lawmakers approved Haider al-Abadi's nominees for vacant portfolios in his cabinet, including such two key positions as defense and interior ministers.

The approval of the two sensitive posts was seen as a major step forward in Iraq where an average of more than 1,000 people die due to daily violence across the country and battles with the Islamic State militant group, an al-Qaida offshoot.