“Iran and Iraq are two Shia countries which monitor developments in Bahrain with special sensitivity and have expressed their support for the oppressed Bahraini people,” a member of Iran-Iraq Parliamentary Friendship Group Farhad Tajarri told ICANA on Tuesday.

The Iranian lawmaker added that the visit by the Iranian foreign minister to Baghdad and his talks with senior Iraqi officials would result in positive outcomes.

Tajarri noted that Salehi's next week trip to Iraq is aimed at improving political, economic and cultural relations between Tehran and Baghdad.

“With regard to the level of economic and trade ties between Iran and Iraq, the visit by the Iranian foreign minister has special importance,” he pointed out.

The legislator expressed hope that the exchange of visits between senior Iranian and Iraqi officials would increase bilateral economic exchanges.

Iran's foreign minister is scheduled to pay an official visit to Iraq next week at the head of a delegation. Salehi is to hold talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari as well as a number of high-ranking political and religious Iraqi officials.