By IRNA,
Baghdad : Iran’s Ambassador to Baghdad Hassan Kazemi Qomi said on Wednesday that Tehran does not interfere with the strategic agreement between Iraq and the US.
Speaking at a banquet given in honor of a group of media persons in Baghdad, he said Iraq is an independent state with democratic government and for the same reason Iran does not interfere with the strategic agreement between Baghdad and Washington.
Iran is doubtful about US measures in Iraq, said the Iranian ambassador.
Iraq is an independent country and acts based on its national interests, he said, adding that even before Maliki’s visit to Tehran there was a national consensus on rejection of US proposals on security agreement between the two sides.
On continued presence of MKO members in Iraq, he said the Iraqi government along with other international organizations have put MKO on the list of terrorist groups.
A number of MKO members wish to go back home and about 500 of them received pardon writs and returned Iran last year, he pointed out.
Any member of the MKO who has not committed any crime or offense, can return home, Kazemi Qomi said.
Iraq’s security and stability would guarantee the security and stability of the entire region and without Iraq’s security, there would be no security in the region, Qomi said.
Insecurity and instability in Iraq is the best pretext for the US troops to remain in the region, he said.
Referring to commonalties between Iranian and Iraqi nations, he said Iran from the beginning has backed Iraq’s political development.
Qomi also strongly refuted allegations made by US on Iran’s support for armed groups and said that this (backing the armed groups) runs counter to Iran’s policy.
“We have announced time and again that if they have any evidences to substantiate their claims they should show them to the Iraqi people but the US has failed to do so by this time, he said.
Iran never regards Iraq as a scene of conflicts with others, he said.
Qomi also congratulated the reporters and media persons on ‘Reporter Day’ and wished them success in carrying out their duties.