President Rouhani spoke with Iraqi President Barham Salih and underlined that “strengthening the dignity, authority and independence of Iraq, and promoting the country’s regional and international position is especially important for us”. “We oppose any foreign interference in the internal affairs of Iraq and we consider it to the detriment of the country and the whole region, and believe that regional security should be ensured by the countries of the region”, Rouhani asserted, adding: “The Americans have always played a destructive role in the region, and the presence of American troops in the region has not helped to bring peace and stability in any way”.