Iran Ready to Expand Its Ties to Iraq

Iranian General Hassan Firouzabadi, in statements made to his Iraqi counterpart, Lieutenant General Babaker Zebari, said that Iran is "ready to expand its military and security ties with Iraq."

Zebari led a delegation of Iraqi military officers to Iran to discussion cooperation between the two military forces.

Firouzabadi stated that the determination of the Iraqi people forced the US and its allies to leave the country and that it should be a lesson to them.

US analysts have expressed concern that Iran will exploit the vacuum left by the US and seek to bolster its relationship with the Shiite-led government.