TEHRAN (MNA) -- Iraq's ambassador to Tehran, Mohammad Majid al-Sheikh, said on Wednesday that the government of the Iraqi prime minister designate Ibrahim Jaafari will try to establish a unique relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In an interview with the Mehr News Agency, al-Sheikh said that the Islamic Republic of Iran has always been at the side of the Iraqi nation and that the relations between the two nations are on the rise.

"We seek amicable relationship with all our neighbors" without interfering in each other's internal affairs, the ambassador noted. "We want all neighbors to help us in reconstructing a new Iraq so that a unified Iraq will take shape and live in peace and complete security with regional countries."

The Iraqi envoy said that there are deep cultural, historical, religious, and social ties between the Iranian and Iraqi nations and the development of relations between the two states is a must.

The Iraqi embassy is ready to arrange for the visit of Iranian pilgrims to the holy shrines in Iraq, he said, adding that the Iraqi people are eager to see the Iranian pilgrims in their country.

Mohammad al-Sheikh also thanked the Iraqi spiritual leader Ayatollah Sistani for his influence on fostering unity among Iraqi ethnic and religious groups including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, Turkmen, Christians, and Assyrians.

He said the Iraqi new government will take shape in the next few days.

One reason for the delay in forming the government has been that Prime Minister Jaafari has been trying to form an efficient government which also represents the wishes of all Iraqi groups.

Asked to comment on a statement by the U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld who urged the new Iraqi government not to purge security forces, the ambassador said all the Iraqi people are against the interference of foreigners in their internal affairs.

He added that the Iraqi interior ministry who is headed by a minister from the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) is determined to get rid of the remnants of the Saddam government whose hands are stained with the blood of the Iraqi nation.