TEHRAN - Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said on Saturday that Iran-Iraq relations and interaction are “constructive” and “important”.

“You, the Iraqi brothers, can always count on friendship with Iran,” he said during a meeting with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohamed Al-Halbousi on the sidelines of the Inter-Parliamentary Union summit in Doha, Qatar.

Larijani also welcomed Halbousi’s invitation to visit Iraq.

Halbousi said that Iraq intends to hold a summit of neighboring countries’ parliament speakers and attaches great importance to Iran’s participation.

Larijani also held a separate meeting with Nabih Berri, the Lebanese parliament speaker.

During the meeting with Berri, Larijani condemned the U.S. for blocking aid to flood victims in Iran.

Since March 19, large parts of Iran have been inundated with flash floods. So far, about 70 people have lost their lives and hundreds of thousands have been displaced. 24 provinces out of 31 have been affected by the flood.

The U.S. is practically preventing aid to the Iranian flood victims by other countries by blocking the accounts of Iran’s Red Crescent Society.

Larijani said before departing to Qatar on Saturday that the U.S. move clearly shows the depth of Washington’s animosity toward the Iranian people.

He held a separate meeting with Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin on Sunday.

Larijani called for implementing agreements between the two countries.

Volodin described the agreements as “important” and “strategic”.

He also invited an Iranian delegation to Moscow in order to participate in the International Forum on the Development of Parliamentarism.

“On July 1-2, the second International Forum on the Development of Parliamentarism will take place. We would be glad if you come or send a delegation,” Sputnik quoted him as saying.

NA/PA