TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- Iran and Iraq signed an agreement on Sunday to step up military cooperation and the fight against "terrorism and extremism".
Iranian Defense Minister Hussein Dehqan and his Iraqi counterpart Erfan al-Hiyali signed a memorandum of understanding which also covered border security, logistics and training, the official news agency IRNA reported.
"Extending cooperation and exchanging experiences in fighting terrorism and extremism, border security, and educational, logistical, technical and military support are among the provisions of this memorandum," IRNA reported after the signing of the accord in Tehran.
Dehqan said while terrorist groups, especially Daesh, were committing crimes in Iraq, cooperation between the two countries resulted in great achievements.
He added that more serious cooperation was necessary to prevent the emergence of terrorist groups in Iraq and across the region.
"The signed MoU will set a framework for future cooperation and we hope that it would prepare the ground for serious and effective measures,” Dehqan said.
The Iraqi minister, for his part, said the agreement was signed in line with the two countries’ common interests.
Heading a delegation, Hiyali arrived here on Saturday at the official invitation of the Iranian defense minister.  
On Sunday, he also met Iran’s Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani who warned against divisive moves in Iraq, apparently referring to the local Kurdish government’s plans to hold a referendum on possible secession.
The Iranian official said the move would allow the Arab country’s enemies to pursue more excessive demands and lead to insecurity and instability.
National unity and integrity in Iraq, he said, would guarantee the country’s stability and security and serve the interests of Iraqis regardless of their ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Shamkhani also hailed the resistance of the Iraqi people, army and popular forces against terrorist groups’ threats.
"Close cooperation among countries which have been victims of terrorism in the region is an unavoidable necessity for military, security and cultural confrontation with terrorism,” he said.
"It will also prevent the reemergence of terrorism and military intervention of foreigners under the pretext of fighting them,” he added.
Shamkhani emphasized that the Islamic Republic would continue to support Iraq’s armed forces and cooperate with the war-stricken country to establish full security and peace and deter all terrorist threats.
Hiyali, for his part, said the unflinching support of the Iranian government, people and armed forces for Iraq’s fight against terrorism played a determining role in the Iraqi nation’s victory against Daesh terrorists.
The Iraqi defense minister stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation in various fields given the two sides’ common objectives.
He said the Iraqi army had managed to independently thwart any act of aggression against the country and would never make way for new plots and illegal moves, which are aimed at disintegrating Iraq.
Iran-Iraq ties have improved since long-time dictator Saddam Hussein was toppled in 2003 and an elected Iraqi government came to power.