BAGHDAD, April 29: Iran's top national security official Ali Larijani met US-installed Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad on Sunday at the start of a previously unannounced three-day visit.

It came as the neighbours announced that Iran would send its foreign minister to conferences of world and regional powers this week to find ways to help Iraq make peace and overcome its current security crisis.

According to a statement from Maliki's office, the Iraqi leader “thanked Iran for agreeing to participate in the two Sharm conferences,” referring to planned meetings in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

The Iraqi statement said that Larijani had promised that Iran would invest in Iraq's electricity grid and provide fuel supplies.

“He also said Iran has been at the forefront in aiding the government and the Iraqi people after the fall of the dictatorial system and those countries that want security and stability in the region must support the elected Iraqi government,” according to Maliki's office.

Iran maintains close ties with many figures in Maliki's Shiite-led government, despite the suspicions of his embattled coalition's other main ally, the United States.

US commanders allege that Iranian agents fund, train and equip many of the extremist factions involved in Iraq's insurgency and sectarian war, including those which target Iraqi and US forces.

Five Iranian officials have been in US custody in Iraq since December, when they were seized in a raid in the northern city of Arbil.

Washington says the men are operatives from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' covert Al Quds Force. Iran insists they are diplomats.

Maliki has tried to steer a difficult middle path between his mismatched supporters, refusing to criticise his larger neighbour while calling on all the countries in the region to help cut off support for Iraqi extremists.

A planned visit by Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh to Tehran later on Sunday was cancelled after Larijani decided to go to Iraq himself, Iranian state media reported.—AFP