Stop US “adventurism”, Iran tells Iraq
TEHRAN, Jan 13, 2007 (AFP) - Iran called on Iraq to work to release five Iranian officials arrested by US forces in Iraq and stop American “adventurism” in the war-ravaged country, the IRNA agency reported Saturday.
“America’s illegal and adventurist acts should stop in Iraq,” Iranian Foreign Minister Manoucheher Mottaki told his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari in a telephone conversation, the agency said.
“These acts contradict the Vienna Convention (on diplomatic relations) and they are an obvious intervention in the brotherly relations between the two countries,” he added.
“Considering the Iraqi government’s responsibilty in this matter, we demand that (they) seriously seek to release the Iranian consulate members in Arbil.”
Six Iranians were arrested in a night-time swoop by US forces on an office in the northern Iraq city of Arbil Thursday, one of whom has since been released.
The United States has said the men had links to Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards and none of them held diplomatic passports. Iran however insists the men were diplomats working for a consulate in the city.
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Iran condemns US raid on its Iraq consulate
Iran on Thursday condemned as ”provocative” a raid by US troops on the Iranian consulate in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil during which five employees were arrested.
“This is a provocative US action and it is contrary to all international laws, and it is condemned,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told state run radio.
“By doing this the Americans are following two aims, firstly to continue their pressure on Iran and secondly to create tension among Iraq’s neighbours,” he said.
“These provocations and mischievous actions cannot tarnish the ongoing friendly relations with Iraq,” Hosseini added, however.
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Pertinent Links:
1) Stop US “adventurism”, Iran tells Iraq
2) First Post Concerning the Raid
Saturday, January 13, 2007
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