Rouhani, al-Maliki hold talks

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, currently on a two-day official visit to Tehran, have on Thursday held talks on ways of boosting bilateral relations between the two countries. Al-Maliki's talks with Iranian officials focused on regional and international issues, including the Syrian crisis and means of settling it as well as coordinating positions ahead of the Geneva II conference. The two sides also reviewed means of developing ties, counterterrorism efforts along with oil, gas and electricity agreements and meetings of joint committees between the two countries. The Iraqi premier also met with Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran's Islamic revolution.