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IRAN: IRAQI LEADER'S TEHRAN TALKS PUT U.S. ON EDGE August 11, 2007
(SomaliNet) Iran's leaders have told visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that American troops must leave his country, in talks that reinforced growing Iran-Iraq ties and sparked unease in Washington.
Following a renewed warning from U.S. President George W. Bush over Tehran's alleged meddling in Iraq, Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei told al-Maliki the U.S.-led forces are the "biggest misfortune" shadowing Iraq.
"The occupiers claim that if they exit now, Iraq will be destroyed. Whereas if the occupiers leave, all the Iraqi officials will move with full force to solve the people's problems," Iranian state television quoted Khamenei as saying.
Al-Maliki, who received a warm welcome from Khamenei and other top Iranians, including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was quoted as telling Khamenei: "Iraq should regain its independence and dignity. The Iraqi government is trying to get Iraq back to normal."
Al-Maliki was also quoted as praising Iran's "constructive" role in "fighting terrorism" in Iraq – a statement Bush moved swiftly to contradict.
"If the signal is that Iran is constructive, I will have to have a heart-to-heart with my friend the prime minister because I do not believe they are," Bush told a White House news conference.
Bush said U.S. officials have warned Iran in talks in Baghdad to stop shipping sophisticated roadside bombs into Iraq or face the "consequences." Iran vehemently denies any such behaviour.
The aim of those talks was "to send the message that there will be consequences for people transporting, delivering EFPs – highly sophisticated IEDs – to kill Americans in Iraq," Bush said.--Thestar.com