Iran urges stronger ties with Iraq, withdrawal of US
Iraq-Iran-USA, Politics, 11/14/2007

Iran's Interior Minister Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi yesterday underscored the need for further expansion of Iran-Iraq relations.

In a meeting in Tehran with Head of the United Iraq Coalition (UIC) Seyed Abdelaziz Hakim, he called for stabilization of border exchanges.

Condemning the plan to disintegrate Iraq, the Iranian minister said the plan will be by no means approved by domestic Iraqi political groups since all those groups are interested in preserving their countries sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He further called for holding bilateral talks between the two countries' border provinces.

For his part, Hakim welcomed Pour-Mohammadi's proposal, stressing that such a move will pave the way for further expansion of all-out ties between the two neighboring countries.

He praised solidarity and unity among Iraqis of all walks of life and voiced satisfaction with the existing unity between the Iraqi political groups and the religious leadership.

Hakim also lauded the solidarity among Iraqi Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds.

Hakim also met Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad and Head of Iran's Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi.

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki yesterday urged the "occupiers of Iraq" to leave the country and let security affairs be administered by the Iraqis themselves. In a meeting Abdelaziz Hakim, he said, "The Iraqi armed forces have the capability to establish and maintain stability and security in their own country."

The Iranian foreign minister also called on the occupying forces to announce their planned schedule for leaving the country.

For his part, Hakim briefed Mottaki on the latest developments in his country including the security and economic status as well as border issues and the situation in northern Iraq.
He further stressed that the Iraqi people along with the armed forces are capable of confronting terrorist groups and establish security and stability in their own state.

As to the readiness of Washington for holding a new round of talks with Tehran on Iraq, the Iranian foreign minister said, "If the Americans are willing to hold negotiations with us, Tehran would be ready to attend the talks for the sake of the oppressed people of Iraq, but they should submit their official request as they did in the previous rounds."

Meantime, Mottaki said that the US should urgently release Iranian diplomats kidnapped in Erbil of Iraq. Release of the kidnapped diplomats by US troops has nothing to do with their recent request for starting next round of talks with Iran on Iraq security, he said.

Previous Stories:
  Mottaki: US is aware of consequences of military attacks on Iran   (10/23/2007)
  Justice against suppliers of chemical weapons to Saddam Husssein sought   (10/23/2007)
  Iraq to release abducted Iranians   (9/14/2007)

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