Iran's Southwestern Province of Khuzestan exported nearly $900mln of non-oil commodities to neighboring Iraq in the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-November 22), a provincial official said.

Khuzestan Governor-General Abolhossein Moqtadayee said that during the 9-month period as much as $900mln worth of commodities was exported from the Iranian bordering province to the neighboring Iraq.

He underlined the need for contribution of private sector in relations with Iraq, and assured private sector activists that they will be supported both in Khuzestan province and Iraq.

Iran and Iraq have enjoyed growing ties ever since the overthrow of the former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, during the 2003 US invasion of the Muslim country.