Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran

U.S. Raided Consulate to 'Sever Iran-Iraq Ties

Is the American raid on the Iranian Consulate in the Kurdish city of Arbil, northern Iraq, a premeditated attempt by Washington to damage Iranian-Iraqi ties? According to this news item from state-run Islamic Republic News, Iranian officials are convinced that the raid, in which five Iranian officials were detained, violated Iranian sovereignty in an attempt to 'impose conditions' on the region.

January 19, 2007

Iran - Islamic Republic News - Original (English))

Tehran: An Iranian official said on Friday that the U.S. raid on an Iranian consulate in the Iraqi city of Arbil [in the Kurdish autonomous region ] was intended to sever Iran-Iraq ties and as a way for the United States to establish full sway over Iraq and the region.

Mohammad Jaafari, deputy head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council for Internal Security Affairs, told reporters, "Only by severing ties between the Iranian and Iraqi governments could the U.S. impose conditions on Iraq and the region."

Jaafari led a delegation to Arbil before an air and ground attack, during which U.S. soldiers stormed the consulate and abducted Iranian diplomats. He noted that the offensive took place while the Iranian delegation held official meetings with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Iraqi Kurdistan's President Masood Barzani.

Jaafari declared, "The United States had no justification for this action. Everything discussed during meetings with the Iraqi President was in line with Iranian and Iraqi national interest."

When asked whether he was the intended target of the consular attack, Jaafari replied: "I don't know what they were looking for. That question should be posed to the Americans. I, too, have heard the rumors you are now speaking of."

According to Jaafari, the Iranian consulate in Arbil has been in operation for 17 years.

"The Iranian consulate was established in Arbil 17 years ago. It had an official seal, and the Islamic Republic of Iran's flag was hoisted above it." The Islamic Republic has consulates in Arbil, Suliymanieh, Basra and Karbala, he added.

Jaafari said that Iraqi officials would do their best to secure the release of those diplomats captured by the Americans.

"The United States wants to hold Iran responsible for insecurity in Iraq, while knowing full well that Iran is not responsible for these difficulties. It would be illogical for Tehran to so strongly support the Iraqi government on the one hand and cause trouble for it on the other."

He said those committing suicide operations in Iraq are Arabs.

"Has there ever been an Iranian among those executing suicide operations in Iraq? Aren't those committing such operations from certain Arab states? Those behind these operations are from allies of the United States, but Bush's administration is unwilling to explain to his own people why young people from U.S. allies kill American soldiers in suicide operations," he noted.

Jaafari said that this is a very difficult issue, and one that the U.S. is reticent to address, and that for the same reason, Washington blames Iran for Iraq's insecurity.

He went on to discuss that in fact, the Iraqi people - who held elections, drew up and compiled the Iraqi Constitution and who formed a government, Parliament, army and police - are the ones responsible for America's failure.

"The United States can do nothing in the face of the Iraqi nation's resistance."

Jaafari reaffirmed that Iran is willing to maintain good relations with the Iraqi government and nation - irrespective of this issue [of whether Iraq is opposed to America's presence]. "We would definitely maintain our good relations and ties with the Iraqi government."

He also ruled out claims that he had carried a message during his visit to Saudi Arabia [asking them to act as a go between], in connection with Iran-U.S. talks.