Hoshyar Zebari (file photo)

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari has demanded that Iran stop what he says is its shelling of Kurdish areas in northern Iraq.

Zebari, who was in Tehran for ministerial meetings Monday, said the cross-border shelling has displaced hundreds of Kurds and threatens Iraqi relations with Iran.

Iran's deputy foreign minister, Mehdi Mostafavi, denied that Iranian forces have shelled Iraqi territory.

Last week, Zebari said his country had summoned the Iranian ambassador and delivered a formal note of protest over the cross-border attacks.

Zebari also acknowledged there are Kurdish rebels that move inside the border area in Iraq, but he said their presence does not justify the continued shelling.

Iran has accused Kurdish rebels of using Iraqi bases to launch attacks inside Iran.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.