Tehran, Nov 18: Iranian foreign minister Kamal Kharazi has offered renewed assurances to visiting Iraqi governing council chairman Jalal Talabani that Iran will not not interfere in Iraq's affairs, the state news agency Irna said today. "Tehran's policy is not to interfere in Iraqi internal affairs," Kharazi told Talabani, who also heads the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and is in the Islamic Republic for a two-day visit.

"Tehran is ready to help bring about stability to Iraq," Kharazi said, calling for the "establishment of an independent and strong Iraqi government based on the will of the Iraqi people."

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami for the first time yesterday expressly recognised the US-backed interim governing council in Iraq after meeting with Talabani. Khatami said Iran's government did "recognise the Iraqi governing council and we believe it is capable, with the Iraqi people, of managing the affairs of the country and taking measures leading toward independence".

Previously, the Islamic Republic has been content to officially consider the council a "step" toward putting power back in the hands of Iraqis and refused to recognise an authority installed by a foreign occupation.

Talabani, who is leading a high-level delegation of seven ministers and 10 members of the governing council, had said his two-day visit was aimed at boosting bilateral relations and would also touch on security issues. Bureau Report