"Any inappropriate interference in Iraq's internal affairs and the changing of people's paths would be a great insult to the Iraqi people," Khatami was quoted as saying by the official news agency IRNA.

The moderate president's comments were made in a meeting with visiting Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh, in Iran on a mission from his US-backed government to press Iran to stop interfering.

According to IRNA, Khatami sought to reassure Saleh by saying "the security of regional countries is interdependent, and therefore insecurity in Iraq jeopardises the peace in countries of the region."

His visit comes amid an effort to ease a recent war of words between the two neighbours about the insurgency in Iraq.