Asefi rebuffs accusations of alleged Iranian interference in Iraqi affairs
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, March 27, IRNA
Iran-US-Asefi
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi here Monday rejected recent remarks by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of Iranian interference in domestic affairs in Iraq.
In an interview with Cable News Network (CNN) on Monday, Rice reiterated US accusations of Iranian interference in Iraqi affairs.
"Although Tehran does not trust Washington, it is seriously concerned with the repercussions of wrong US policy in Iraq which is the main reason it had accepted Iraqi officials' request that it hold negotiations with the US," he reiterated.
According to the Foreign Ministry's Information and Press Department, Asefi further said that talks with Washington were aimed at restoring security to Iraq and paving the way for withdrawal of US forces from the country.
The despicable performance of US forces in Iraq has caused a heavy toll on innocent Iraqi lives, he said.
Establishment of security and stability in Iraq will benefit all regional states, particularly Iraq's neighbors, Asefi stressed.
1422/2321/1414
