Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- With the political future of Iraq still hanging in the balance, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, leader of a coalition of powerful Shiite parties backed by Iran, arrived for talks in the Islamic republic Monday.
Al-Maliki's opponent, who leads a more secular coalition, has accused Iran of fomenting unrest in Iraq.
Welcomed by Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on his arrival in Tehran, al-Maliki is meeting senior Iranian officials to discuss various issues of importance for both countries, his office said.
Meanwhile, his challenger, former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, accused Iran of working to destabilize the Middle East in an interview that aired Sunday on CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS".
"We know that unfortunately Iran is trying to wreak havoc on the region, and trying to destabilize the region by destabilizing Iraq, and destabilizing Lebanon and destabilizing the Palestinian issue," Allawi said.
The region is "falling victim" to terrorist groups backed financially by Iran, he said.
Al-Maliki is battling to keep his job in Iraq. His party won 89 parliamentary seats in the March election, losing by a narrow margin to Allwai with 91 seats.
To form a government, a 163-seat majority out of 325 seats is needed. Since March, al-Maliki and Allawai have been jockeying for support.
CNN
