AFP: An Iraqi delegation is to deliver a written message from Iraq’s leadership to Iranian President Mohammad Khatami during a visit here Tuesday, an Iraqi diplomat told AFP Monday, amid fresh complaints from Baghdad over alleged Iranian interference. Iraq’s ambassador to Tehran, Mohammad Majid al-Sheikh, said the letter had been written by interim President Ghazi al-Yawar and interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, but … AFP
TEHRAN – An Iraqi delegation is to deliver a written message from Iraq’s leadership to Iranian President Mohammad Khatami during a visit here Tuesday, an Iraqi diplomat told AFP Monday, amid fresh complaints from Baghdad over alleged Iranian interference.
Iraq’s ambassador to Tehran, Mohammad Majid al-Sheikh, said the letter had been written by interim President Ghazi al-Yawar and interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, but said he was not aware of its specific content.
“The letter could discuss the current situation in Iraqi, the insurgency in Fallujah, and also bilateral relations and the outcome of the joint commissions,” said al-Sheikh, who took up his post in September as Iraq’s first ambassador to Iran in 24 years.
He said that the delegation due to visit Iran Tuesday would be headed by the interim Iraqi minister in charge of provinces, Ghazi Wael Abdollatif, and interim deputy foreign minister Hamed al-Bayati.
The team is lined up for talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi, and the ambassador said discussions would also “probably” include planning for a visit here by Allawi after the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan ends on November 15.
Relations between Iran and Iraq — who fought a devastating war between 1980 and 1988 — continue to be dogged by allegations from Baghdad that Tehran’s clerical regime is backing insurgents battling the US-led occupation.
Last week Allawi urged the European Union to use its influence with Syria and Iran to stop them from “fuelling violence” in his country.
On Saturday, Kharazi dismissed the fresh allegations and asserted his country was in fact playing a “positive role”. He said allegations of meddling needed to be backed up by “evidence”.
Official sources here have also said that Syrian Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shara is due to visit Tehran on Tuesday. Damascus is Tehran’s closest ally in the region.
