Talebani: Iran, Syria, US want Maleki as Iraq PM

Iraqi President Jalal Talebani says Iran, the United States and Syria all separately want the re-election of Nouri al-Maliki as the country’s prime minister.

“The Americans, Iranians and Syrians agree to the reelection of al-Maliki as the prime minister, but the concordance the three is not based on a prior coordination between them,” Talebani said on Monday.

Talebani also told Al Hayat daily that the Iraqi Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s support for al-Maliki is not unlikely.

On Iraq’s relations with Iran, Talebani said, “Iran is Iraq’s neighbor and the two countries enjoy extensive and satisfactory economic, diplomatic, cultural and tourism relations.”

Iraq will observe the international resolutions against Iran, however, it will not be harsh and excessive in implementing such measures, Talebani concluded.