Iraqi President Jalal Talabani wrapped up his landmark visit to Iran on Wednesday, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Talabani was seen off at the airport by Iranian Minister of Industries and Mines Alireza Tahmasebi.

Earlier, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held an official farewell ceremony for Talabani, during which Ahmadinejad promised to help Iraq achieve security, independence and freedom, stressing that Iran respects dignity and progress of Iraq.

During his visit which started on Monday, Talabani held meetings with senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Seyed Ali Khamenei, President Ahmadinejad and Chairman of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

The Iraqi president exchanged views with Iranian officials on economic cooperation, including issues related to oil, gas and the construction of a transnational railroad.

The two sides reiterated their common intention to "develop strategic relations in all fields".

Talabani was the first Iraqi president to visit Iran in the past four decades.

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

The downfall of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein paved the way to the normalization of relations between the two once hostile neighbors.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari paid a landmark official visit to Iran in mid-July, opening a new chapter in bilateral relations.

(Xinhua News Agency November 24, 2005)