TEHRAN -- President Mohammad Khatami here on Sunday congratulated the Tajik government and people on the country's independence anniversary, IRNA reported.

In a message to his Tajik counterpart, Imomali Rakhmonov, President Khatami reiterated the Islamic Republic of Iran's interest in cooperation with Tajikistan.

He expressed hope that bilateral relations would expand through mutual efforts of the two countries' high-ranking officials.