Iraq no longer needs any help from the United States, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Sunday as he offered to strengthen ties between the two neighbouring countries, which were once at war.
"The Iraqi nation has fortunately passed the hard days through competent management by the country's officials," Ahmadinejad said after talks in Tehran, according to the official news agency IRNA.
"With a powerful and dignified Iraq and together with Iran, there would be no need anymore for the presence of enemies like the US in the region," the president added.
During his visit, the Iraqi prime minister also held talks with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Ahmadinejad later told al-Maliki that as far as Iran was concerned, there would be no limit to an expansion of ties with Iraq.
The Iraqi premier was quoted by IRNA as saying that co-operation between Tehran and Baghdad could have a positive and constructive impact on regional developments and challenges.
The two leaders were also expected to have discussed the next round of the talks on Iran's controversial nuclear programme, due to be held in Baghdad on May 23.
Iran and Iraq fought a bloody war between 1980 and 1988.