TEHRAN, July 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Iran and Iraqi have agreed to cooperate in military and anti-terror fields, defense ministers of the two countries said here on Thursday.

   Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani and his visiting Iraqi counterpart Sadoun al-Dulaimi voiced determination to begin military and anti-terror cooperation at a joint press conference.

   "The two sides held talks in this regard and reached consensus that we should cooperate," Shamkhani said, stressing that a relevant agreement would be signed soon.

   "Several committees will also be established to train and reinforce Iraqi military force, follow up the status of missing soldiers during the 1980-1988 war and clear mine-stricken areas," Shamkhani added.

   For his part, al-Dulaimi termed his visit to Iran as "opening a new chapter" in the history of relations between the two neighbors.

   "We two countries will no longer stand against each other and will try our best to defend our values," al-Dulaimi said.

   The Iraqi minister said that during his talks with Shamkhani, the two parties discussed ways to future cooperation and expressed confidence that such cooperation will benefit both sides.

   As to Tehran's persistent call for withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq, al-Dulaimi said that the current situation necessitate a longer presence of them.

   However, al-Dulaimi promised that Iraq "will never be a source of insecurity and instability for any of its neighbors" and will not allow any country to use the Iraqi soil to attack its neighbors.

   Al-Dulaimi, heading a high-ranking delegation, arrived in Tehran Tuesday night for a three-day official visit.

   Iran and Iraq fought a disastrous war from 1980 to 1988, during which more than 500,000 people were killed.

   Tehran has been keeping a close watch on developments of the Iraqi situation since the downfall of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

   The United States has accused Tehran of interfering in Iraq's internal affairs with its influence upon Shiites in the country, a charge categorically denied by Iran.

   Iran says that it is devoted to building healthy cooperation with Iraq, while urging a withdrawal of foreign troops from the war-torn country.

   Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari will pay an official visit to Iran on July 12 to explore ways of cooperation in various fields. Enditem