TEHRAN, July 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Iran and Iraq restarted high-level military talks Wednesday on peace and security issues in the region, for the first time after the two countries fought a war between 1980 and 1988.

    Visiting Iraqi Defense Minister Saadoun al-Dulaimi praised the meeting here with his Iranian counterpart, Admiral Ali Shamkhani, as a breakthrough, the semi-official ISNA students news agency reported.

    The Iraqi minister said that till now, "we had no relations so there are many important issues to be discussed."

    He said his country wants to become "a pillar of peace, stability and security in the region."

    The Iranian minister said the talks "were meant to heal the wounds of the past and begin a future based on fundamental relations between Iran and Iraq."

    Next week, a large Iraqi delegation headed by Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari will arrive in Tehran. Enditem