Iranian state media say Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will make his second official visit to Tehran next week for talks with Iranian leaders.

State-run news agency IRNA says Mr. Maliki will visit the Iranian capital next Wednesday to discuss economic and political cooperation, and the implementation of previously-signed agreements. Baghdad has not confirmed the trip.

The Shi'ite Iraqi prime minister made his first official visit to Iran, a predominantly Shi'ite country, in September last year. Mr. Maliki once lived in exile in Iran.

Iraq and Iran fought a bloody war in the 1980's, when Saddam Hussein, a Sunni, led the Iraqi government.

Tensions between the neighbors have eased since Iraq's Shi'ite majority became the dominant political force in the country following elections in 2005.

The United States accuses Iran of providing support to Shi'ite militias in Iraq, a charge Tehran denies.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP.

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