TEHRAN -- President Mohammad Khatami said here on Saturday that Muslim states seek the establishment of a lasting and just peace in occupied Palestine as well as the formation of an independent national government in Iraq.

Khatami in a meeting with the outgoing Ambassador of Morocco Jamaleddin Ghazi stressed the need for cooperation among Muslim states to restore their rights.

He pointed to the age-old contribution of Iran and Morocco to Islamic civilization, calling Tehran-Rabat ties as friendly, IRNA reported.

He emphasized the need for all-out expansion of bilateral ties based on mutual respect.

Ghazi said for his part that senior Moroccan officials are determined to expand cooperation with Tehran. He said cooperation between Iranian and Moroccan parliamentary friendship groups and Iran-Morocco commerce council is a model of enhanced ties.

He referred to historical and cultural bonds between Iranian and Moroccan nations in the world of Islam and their excellent geographic position, saying that Tehran and Rabat can benefit from their potential and capacities to guarantee mutual interests.