TEHRAN -- Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani here on Tuesday called on the Organization of the Islamic Conference to end the sectarian conflict in Iraq and the “ossified views” in Afghanistan through a serious plan.

“A plan to foment conflict between the Islamic countries, especially the Shias and Sunnis, is an obvious plot by the enemies,” Hashemi said in a meeting with Tunisian ambassador to Tehran Hatam al-Saem.

Certain behaviors by extremists in the Islamic countries serve the interests of foreigners, he noted.

Rafsanjani also said expanding ties with the African counties, especially the Islamic states, is on the agenda of Iran’s foreign policy.

Al-Saem said that Tunisia favors developed ties between Tehran and Tunis.

The petrochemical industry and manufacturing automobiles are among the fields in which Iran and Tunisia can cooperate, he said, adding that strengthening the two countries’ private sectors is the key to activating the potential for cooperation.