Iran urges foreign forces to leave Iraq

Iran’s caretaker foreign minister has called for the withdrawal of US-led forces from Iraq, stressing Tehran’s support for Baghdad’s independence and stability.

“[Iraq’] independence and territorial integrity can be achieved without the presence of foreign forces,” Ali Akbar Salehi said at a joint press conference with Iraq’s Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari on Wednesday.

“Iran supports strengthening sustainable security in Iraq as well as the country’s independence and sovereignty,” IRNA quoted Salehi as saying.

Salehi arrived in Baghdad as the head of a delegation to hold talks with senior Iraqi officials on bilateral relations and regional issues.

He was welcomed by Foreign Minister Zebari at the Baghdad International Airport upon his arrival.

Salehi is scheduled to hold talks with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on the expansion of mutual ties and the latest regional and international developments.

“Iran and Iraq, as two neighboring countries have no alternative, but to cooperate to resolve [their] problems,” the Iranian official stressed.

Salehi added that the main reason behind his one-day visit to Baghdad was to congratulate Iraqis on the establishment of the national unity cabinet.

On December 21, Iraq’s parliament approved three deputy prime ministers and 31 ministerial candidates nominated by Maliki, paving the way for the formation of a new government.

Iraq had been left without a government since the inconclusive parliamentary elections in March, which did not give any of the electoral slates the parliamentary majority they required to form a new cabinet.

Maliki’s State of Law coalition won 89 seats in the elections on the heels of former Iraqi Premier Iyad Allawi’s al-Iraqiya bloc, which secured 91 seats.

Iraqi politicians finally reached a power-sharing agreement in November.