Iran is second home for Iraq, Syria presidents

Iran is second home for both Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mohammad Ali Hosseini said yesterday.

He made the remarks while speaking to domestic and foreign reporters in his weekly briefing.

In response to a question about the tripartite meeting of Iranian, Iraqi and Syrian presidents to discuss practical ways to stop bloodshed in Iraq, he said that tripartite meeting was not on the agenda, though it is a good plan.

Hosseini said that the delay in Talabani's tour to Iran was due to the human disaster caused by terrorist bombing in Sadr City district of Baghdad on Thursday and state of emergency prompted by death of 250 innocent people and injury of 300 others, a reference to the curfew and shutdown of Baghdad airport since Thursday.

The spokesman said that the terrorist attacks in Iraq are masterminded by those targeting the unity of Shiite and Sunni Muslims.

"While innocent people get killed in Iraq before the eyes of US troops, the American officials are pressing ahead with their wrong policies in the country," he noted.

Hosseini said that the crisis in Iraq can only be resolved by the patience and self-restraint of different factions, protection of national unity, withdrawal of foreign forces and hand-over of national affairs to Iraqis themselves.

Concerning the assassination of Lebanese minister of industries, Pierre Gemayel, he said that the terrorist attack took place after the victory of Lebanese resistance forces, when tranquility was required in the country.

He hoped that Lebanon would stay clear of the US and Israeli influence and that the nation will proceed with national resolve to bring about independence and welfare.

Asked about the visit of Malaysian foreign minister Hamid Albar to Iran, he said that it aimed to expand economic ties, adding that 50 percent growth has been observed in the volume of trade exchanges between the two sides in the current year.

In reply to a question whether or not Japan has suspended dollars 10 million development loan to Iran under the US influence. he said, "Such a news has been published. We should wait and see what's is the matter. Japanese officials sometimes speak in a way that you think they are under US influence."