"We look forward to Iraq returning to its full independence and security," Salehi, who was born in Karbala in central Iraq, told a news conference in Baghdad.

Iranian officials have expressed hope that the new Iraqi government, which was approved by parliament on December 21, would help stabilise the war-torn country.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told the news conference that Salehi had met with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and that one of the issues discussed was the People's Mujahedeen of Iran (PMOI), an Iraq-based Iranian opposition group.

"Our constitution doesn't allow any organisation to be on our land and attack our neighbors, and we are committed to that," Zebari said, without providing details on the talks.

The PMOI fought against Iran during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war and was disarmed following the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.

Ties between predominantly Shiite Iran and Shiite-majority Iraq have warmed considerably since the overthrow of Saddam's Sunni-dominated regime in a US-led invasion in 2003.