IRAN WARNS US OVER RULING IRAQ
TEHERAN/WASHINGTON 9 May (IPS) As the United States increased its pressures over Iran, Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani warned Washington that it would not allow it to rule Iraq "in a way or another".
The United States is to ask the international community to declare Iran in breach of a key nuclear weapons treaty, after deciding that new evidence of Iranian misconduct is so blatant that even the United Nations cannot ignore it.
"Iran's stand on Iraq is quite clear. We stated clearly that we were
opposed to the continuation of the Saddam rule in Iraq and are neutral in the
(American-led) war on that nation, but if the United Stated want to administer
Iraq in the future, we shall not remain indifferent Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani
stated.
"Of course, the Iraqi people would not allow the Americans to rule over them and we are of the opinion that all Muslims must help the Iraqis not allowing America to stay in their country and create a niche for itself at the heart of the Middle East", he added, addressing worshippers during the traditional Friday prayers in Tehran.
Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani made the harsh remarks one day after the Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Kamal Kharrazi had stated that Iran was open to expand friendly relations with all nations, "even the United States".
Iranian analysts were divided deciphering the significance of Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani’s speech, with some saying he was addressing the domestic public opinion rather than the United States, while others interpreted the statement as a real menace, after the Bush Administration did not respond to the olive branch he himself had offered the White House two weeks ago, saying that resuming relations with the United States was not a major problem.
"This is the strongest warnings Iranian ayatollahs have ever issued to the United States. Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani is clearly telling America that Iran would revert to any arms at its disposal, like suicide operations, to create trouble for the Americans, not only in Iraq, but also in the region as well as in the world. In short, this is an open declaration of war", one analyst told Iran Press Service on condition of anonymity.
In the last Friday prayers, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, the Secretary of the conservatives controlled Council of the Guardians had said the United States would face with "intifada-like" operations if they decide to stay in Iraq and rule the neighbouring nation, referring to radical Palestinian groups using human bombs against the Israelis.
Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani, who is the Chairman of the powerful Assembly for Discerning the Interests of the State (ADIS), or Expediency Council, said there is no solution to the Iraq crisis unless the United States let the Iraqis determine their own fate and decide on the future government in the predominantly Shi’ite country, the official news agency IRNA reported Friday.
Assuring that the United States would not be able to rule Iraq, the former president called on Muslim nations and leaders to be "vigilant" and be fully aware of the seriousness of the present situation by mobilising all their forces and resources in opposing the United States expansionist plans, aimed, he said, at "preserving the Israeli interests".
"Islamic nations have more than 50 votes at the United Nations, they control most of the of world’s energy resources as well as some most strategic geographic places like the Hormoz in the Persian Gulf, the Suez Canal and elsewhere. With all these important points and a billion and a half Muslims world over, they can easily defend the interest of Islam", he pointed out.
"The US officials are committing a big mistake if they think they could rule Iraq by bringing the Iraqi masses under pressure and a day will come when the White House will pay for the mistake of its officials", he said.
Countering American’s accusations about Iran’s meddling in the internal affairs of Iraq, Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani said the US officials are after attributing the problems they have created in Iraq to others so as to be in a position to convince the world nations that they have not been behind the many crises facing Iraq.
For its part, the Iranian Foreign Affairs Ministry, brushing aside claims of Iran's interference in Iraq internal affairs, said on Friday that in promoting a US-inspired model of government, the American leaders are actually spreading lies and immorality in international affairs.
Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani also bid farewell to Ayatollah Mohammad Baqer al-Hakim, the leader of the Tehran-based, Iran-backed Supreme Assembly of the Islamic Revolution of Iraq (SAIRI), hoping that the Iraqi spiritual leader would succeed to restore order and stability to Iraq.
The 63 years-old Al-Hakim is to leave Iran for his native Iraq on Saturday after 23 years of exile, addressing the population of Basra, his first stop, before going to Najaf, the historic theological centre of the Shi’as world-wide.
Shi’ite Muslims form about 60 percent of Iraq's 25 million populations, with most of them concentrated in the south. ENDS IRAN US 9503