Iran’s Ahmadinejad confers with Chalabi on U.S. departure from Iraq

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Nov. 06 – In a meeting with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Chalabi in Tehran on Saturday, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for the departure of United States troops from neighbouring Iraq. Iran Focus

Tehran, Iran, Nov. 06 – In a meeting with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Chalabi in Tehran on Saturday, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for the departure of United States troops from neighbouring Iraq.

Ahmadinejad linked the continuation of insecurity and “terrorist actions” in Iraq to the U.S. presence there. The Iranian president blamed the “American occupation” for the death of ordinary Iraqi civilians killed during the insurgency.

He said that the U.S. was using the insurgency as an excuse to remain in Iraq, adding that he supported all efforts by the Iraqi government to set a timetable for the departure of foreign forces.

During the meeting, Chalabi thanked the Iranian President for Tehran’s efforts in Iraq and called for a strengthening of ties between Tehran and Baghdad.

Last year Chalabi was accused of leaking U.S. secrets to Tehran.