Tehran: Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf has expressed readiness to strengthen parliamentary cooperation with Iraq in a phone call with the newly-elected Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, Mahmoud al-Mashhadani. During the phone call on Wednesday, Qalibaf congratulated al-Mashhadani on his appointment, noting that assuming this role during the challenging period marked by US and Israeli crimes in Palestine and Lebanon could be impactful. According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Qalibaf highlighted al-Mashhadani's stance against US and Israeli influence as a valuable asset for the resistance movement and Iraq's parliament. He also extended an invitation for al-Mashhadani to visit Tehran, reaffirming Iran's commitment to expanding parliamentary ties with Iraq. Al-Mashhadani, in turn, emphasized the strong bonds and shared interests between Iran and Iraq, referring to close neighborhood and mutual interests which he said have created common concerns. He affirmed Iraq's steadfas t support for the Palestinian cause, pledging to continue supporting Palestine and Lebanon despite challenges along the way.