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Foreign forces presence in Iraq cause of insecurity: Rafsanjani

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, June 18, IRNA
Iran-Iraq-Religion
Chairman of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said here Sunday that presence of foreign forces in Iraq is a cause of the country's dependence and insecurity in the region.

Rafsanjani made the remark in a meeting with the visiting head of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), Abdul Aziz al-Hakim.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is against any measure leading to insecurity in Iraq.

"Iran will defend and support the Iraqi nation under whatever circumstance. It will continue its constructive role in easing the pains of the Iraqi people at this new juncture," Rafsanjani said.

He cited religion as "the most important factor determining the fate of the Iraqi people," saying, "Presence of ulema in Iraq's political scene will promote people's role and guarantee their national unity and integrity."
He stressed the importance of reinforcing unity among the Iraqi people, adding, "The United States has no option but to delegate the Iraqi affairs to its nation and move in a path based on their will and demands."
Al-Hakim, for his part, stressed the leading role of religious belief among the Iraqi people in administering their country and said religious and ethnic differences in Iraq would bear no fruit.

He strongly condemned efforts to cause insecurity in Iraq and terrorist measures against its defenseless people and added the Iraqi government would severely confront such moves.

The SCIRI head said Iran was a close friend of the Iraqi people and government and added efforts made by the two countries' enemies to cause difference among them were doomed to failure.

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