Reuters BRENDAN MCDERMID
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said during a phone call with the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, that the United States is playing a “sabotage period” in the Middle East, including Iraq.
The Iranian president’s office said, in a statement, that Rouhani and Al-Kazemi discussed regional developments and the release of Iran’s frozen funds in Iraq.
Rouhani stressed that “Iraq’s security, territorial integrity and stability are among Iran’s priorities,” stressing that his country rejects foreign interference in Iraqi internal affairs and considers it harmful to Iraq and the entire region.
Rouhani pointed out that “there are billions of dollars illegally detained in Iraq and they should be released immediately,” noting that “Iranian funds are still frozen in Iraq despite repeated promises by Iraqi officials to release them.”
The Iranian president also stressed that “the American military presence in the Middle East brings insecurity and stability,” adding that “Washington continues to play a sabotage role in the region and Iraq.”
He added, “Accelerating the removal of American forces from Iraq in accordance with the Iraqi parliament law would contribute to the security and stability of Iraq and the entire region.”
He reiterated that “the solution to the problems of the Middle East is done through the countries of the region without foreign interference,” stressing that Iran is ready to cooperate with regional countries to settle crises and achieve peace and stability.
The Iranian presidency also quoted Al-Kazemi as saying that the US sanctions on Iran are “unjust and illegal.”
The Iraqi Prime Minister indicated, according to the statement, that the change in the US administration has created a new atmosphere for cooperation between countries, pointing out that Iraq will make all its efforts to lift the sanctions on Iran.
Source: RT
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