Hosseini. Diagnosing a problem
Photo: Reuters
Rice. In need of therapy?
Photo: AFP
Iran says US shows 'Iranophobia' over Iraq
Foreign Ministry spokesman responds to Rice's attempt to blame Tehran for Iraq's security problems, says US administration policies 'illogical'
Iran
accused US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of "Iranophobia" on Sunday for trying to blame Tehran for Iraq's security problems.
Iran, as a neighbor of Iraq, will also attend the gathering.
Rice said last week she would press Iraq's Arab neighbors at a meeting on Tuesday in Kuwait to do more to support Baghdad's government and shield it from Iran's "nefarious influences".
British Fear
Customs probe triggers alarm among British government officials who fear Tehran's nuclear program may be receiving significant support from sources in kingdom, The Guardian reports
"Regarding Rice's statements, these statements are not something new. American officials follow the policy of Iranophobia," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told reporters in a weekly news conference.
"We see the developments in Iraq today are the outcome of the US administration's illogical policies. The American officials want to externalize the problems they are facing inside Iraq," he said, adding US policies in Iraq had failed.
Washington accuses Tehran of funding, training and arming Iraqi militias, a charge Iran denies. Tehran says the presence of US troops is behind Iraq's problems and wants them out.
Hosseini said Tehran would encourage Arab states to be more active in Iraq where Iran, unlike Arab states, has an embassy.
"We have always encouraged those countries to play a more active role inside Iraq... and also resume diplomatic relations and open their embassies and support the political process in Iraq," he said.
Arab countries, who are mainly Sunni Muslim, are suspicious of Iran, which like Iraq is majority Shiite.
Although Iran and the United States have not had diplomatic ties for almost three decades, officials from both countries held three rounds of talks last year to discuss Iraqi security.
A fourth round of talks has faced several delays, although Baghdad has been encouraging the discussions to continue.
Hosseini said no date had been fixed for the next round of talks.
