New Delhi, Feb 10 (IANS): President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday greeted Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, on the 38th anniversry of Islamic Revolution and praised the sacrifices of people of Iran.

"I extend warm greetings and best wishes to Your Excellency and to the friendly people of Iran on the occasion of 38th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of Iran," Mukherjee said in a statement issued here.

The Islamic Revolution stands testimony to the great valour and sacrifices of the people of Iran, he said.

The President added that India-Iran relations were rooted in history and "are based on our close cultural and civilisational linkages that span millennia. We consider Iran as an important partner and look forward to strengthening our bilateral cooperation across diverse areas on the basis of our shared interests". 

He said he was confident that "such engagement will bring stability and prosperity to the entire region".

The Islamic Revolution in 1979 toppled the secular western-backed regime of Emperor Mohammad Reza Shah Pehlavi. It was a populist movement led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomenei, who became the founder of the Islamic nation.