Larijani made the remarks on Saturday during a meeting in Tehran with Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim, leader of Iraq’s National Wisdom Movement. The two sides discussed regional developments and bilateral relations.

He described Iraq as a friendly, strong, and like-minded country, emphasizing that cooperation between the two neighbors is strategic and must become more tangible under current circumstances.

Al-Hakim praised Iran’s resilience in the face of Israeli aggression, saying the recent war waged by Israel against the Islamic Republic, contrary to Tel Aviv’s expectations, only reinforced Iran’s standing in the region.

He added that Muslims across the region have acknowledged Iran’s powerful role, noting that Israel’s hostile conduct and its “Greater Israel” plot have validated Iran’s long-standing description of the regime as a “cancerous tumor.”