"During this one-day trip, Iranian-Iraqi relations will be discussed," an official source was quoted as telling the ISNA news agency.

Turkey has threatened a major cross-border assault on bases of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the remote mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan if Baghdad and Washington fail to make good on promises to crack down on the rebels.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan visited Tehran on Sunday, warning Turkey could launch an attack on PKK militants in northern Iraq but failing to win the support of neighbouring Iran for a military strike.

Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria all have Kurdish minorities.

During a visit to Damascus on Monday , Mottaki and his Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem pledged their countries' support for efforts to defuse the crisis.

"The Iranians have initiated efforts which complement those of Syria, because we want to give a political solution a chance," Muallem said.

"The PKK terrorists threaten not only Turkey but also Iran and Syria," said Mottaki. "The terrorist operations from the north of Iraq create a destabilising effect throughout the region."