In the most widely reported covert operations under way in Iran, the US is smuggling weapons and money to disaffected non-Persian ethnic minority factions. But at the recent Iran-US talks in Baghdad, Iranian delegates focused on less publicized sabotage and espionage missions in the Persian heartland of Iran by a US-backed militia of Persian exiles known as the Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK).
Among Iraqi newspapers, Al-Sabah newspaper, which is close to the government and is considered to be the most influential newspaper in Iraq, has discussed the issue with a big headline on the first page reading: ‘Three sides, a case and ambiguous talks’.
“We also told the Americans explicitly that the problems of Iraqi people will increase if the US continues its occupation of Iraq.””Our main reason for taking part in the negotiation was supporting the government of Prime Minister al-Maliki in Iraq and we are ready to offer any kind of assistance to Iraq Government to increase its ability in running the country,”Ambassador Kazemi said.
The emphasis from both sides that Iraq and only Iraq will be discussed is evidence of their deep mutual mistrust and enmity. Keeping each other at arm’s length, each side is skirting carefully around the elephant in the room, that is, the deeply divisive issues that have poisoned Iran-US relations for nearly three decades. Clearly neither side would have agreed to meet unless forced by necessity. But has that necessity forced the beginning of a new phase in relations, or should we accept
This is what we understand. Iraq is suffering a vicious cycle. There are foreign forces who have occupied Iraq, and justify their presence on the pretext of the ‘war on terror’ and terrorists who claim they are fighting occupiers …Each is justified by the other.The only solution is to end occupation, and this means a well-planned strategy.
‘The unsuccessful experience of major powers in their superficial, improper and biased approach to combating terrorism has been ineffective in decreasing terrorist threats,’ he was quoted as saying by the Iranian IRNA news agency. At the two-day meeting which concluded on Friday, Soltanieh, who represents his country at the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, denounced the attempt to establish a connection between terrorism and religion.
Mr Araghchi, a career diplomat seen as a potential interlocutor with Washington, insisted the US presence was part of Iraq’s problem. “Iraq is suffering a vicious cycle. There are foreign forces who have occupied Iraq and justify their presence under the pretext of the ‘war on terror’ and there are terrorists who claim they are fighting occupiers.”
“Belgium has allowed a group that is in the European Union’s list of terrorists to hold a conference”while the Belgian Ambassador to Tehran Herve’ Goyens is on a Middle East tour to hold talks on fighting international terrorism, Rahimpur told the envoys in separate meetings. MKO is listed by both the European Union and the United States as a terrorist organization.
“The UN has put the amount of losses inflicted on Iran at more than dlrs 100 billion, while Iran has estimated them at dlrs 1,000 billion,”he added. The provisions of the Resolution 598 should be implemented by the Iraqi government, he noted. …