Iran Rejects US Comments on Tehran-Baghdad Ties as Meddlesome

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi dismissed the US officials’ comments on Tehran-Baghdad relations as meddlesome, reassuring that the bilateral ties between the two neighboring countries will be affected by no third party.

News ID: 443913

Date: 14 March 2019 - 12:29

RNA - In a statement, Qassemi dismissed as “meddlesome and unprofessional” the recent remarks by US special representative for Iran Brian Hook regarding the Iranian president’s visit to Iraq and the warm welcome he received from the Iraqi government and nation.

“The outrage of the American official comes as no surprise because it seems the US has not yet achieved a desirable status among the regional states despite spending billions of dollars in the Middle East,” he noted.

According to the spokesman, the reason behind the failure is “for sure the US’ aggressive, military and meddlesome approaches (towards the region)”.

Qassemi underlined that the American officials should stop their undue immorality and greed “to which they have grown accustomed” for many years and have this clear and important point in mind that “the era of interference and making decisions for others is over”.

He referred to Iran and Iraq as two independent countries whose governments have been elected by the votes of their people.

“Doubtlessly, the two great nations are capable enough to discern their interests and preferences. So, there is no need for a country (like the US) with such a dark record of aggression, warmongering and destruction to decide for them from thousands of kilometers away,” he noted.

Qassemi noted that Iran and Iraq are two neighboring countries with long-shared borders and a longtime and deeply-rooted common history, adding that the two nations enjoy deep cultural, religious and historical commonalities.

He also said the two nations have chosen to establish strategic and friendly relations with each other based on good neighborliness.

According to Qassemi, Tehran and Baghdad will spare no effort to preserve and continue their relations and await no one’s permission in this regard.

“What is seen today in Iran-Iraq relations is based on deep and extensive experiences,” he concluded.

President Rouhani arrived in Iraq on Monday for a three-day visit aimed at boosting bilateral ties between the two neighbors amid US sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Rouhani is visiting Iraq to hold talks with Iraqi officials. A high-ranking delegation is accompanying the president.

In relevant remarks earlier today, he warned of Washington's new plots against the regional states by relocating terrorists to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

"The problem of terrorism has not terminated yet, of course, and it is possible that the terrorists create problems for the regional people in different forms because the Americans have hatched a new plot against the region and are transferring the terrorists to Afghanistan, Central Asia and the Caucasus," President Rouhani said, addressing the Iraqi elites, tribal leaders and religious leaders in Baghdad on Tuesday.

He noted that the regional nations with their resistance showed to the world that the arrogant powers are the main sponsors of the terrorists providing them with money and arms, and that they plunder the regional countries' historical monuments and antiques and sell them in the market.

"Everyone is aware that the western powers have not played a role in annihilation of the terrorists and have only conducted theatrical operations with their planes and helicopters," President Rouhani said.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi said on Tuesday that President Rouhani's visit to Baghdad “in daylight” showed Tehran’s power versus Washington’s weak position in the region, reminding that US President Donald Trump visited the Arab country at night without a reception.

Araqchi said that President Rouhani's visit to Baghdad “in daylight” and Iraqi officials' warm welcome proved Iran's grandeur and power.

“President Rouhani visited Iraq and was welcomed by the Iraqi officials, while US President Donald Trump visited Iraq over the night and landed in US military base without reception,” said the diplomat.

Araqchi said, “Iraq is a neighbor of ours and we are close partners.”

Touching upon the two visits, former Prime Minister of Sweden Carl Bildt, in a Tweet on Monday, mocked Trump for his secret two-hour trip to Iraq late in December, saying that his Iranian counterpart intends to make a three-day tour of the Arab country.

"While Trump only visited US troops at a remote airbase, not seeing Iraq leaders, Iran President Rouhani spends three days touring the country," Bildt wrote on his twitter page.

Also, Arab media outlets compared Trump's secret short visit to Iraq with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani's tour of the country whose preparations have been made weeks ago.

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