Monday, January 29, 2007

Ambassador: Iran to expand economic, military ties in Iraq

Both Prime Minister Maliki and President Talabani of Iraq have made recent visits to visit Iranian President Ahmadinejad.

BAGHDAD, Jan. 28 — Iran’s ambassador to Baghdad outlined an ambitious plan on Sunday to greatly expand its economic and military ties with Iraq — including an Iranian national bank branch in the heart of the capital — just as the Bush administration has been warning the Iranians to stop meddling in Iraqi affairs.

Iran’s plan, as outlined by the ambassador, carries the potential to bring Iran into further conflict here with the United States, which has detained a number of Iranian operatives in recent weeks and says it has proof of Iranian complicity in attacks on American and Iraqi forces.

The ambassador, Hassan Kazemi Qumi, said Iran was prepared to offer Iraq government forces training, equipment and advisers for what he called “the security fight.” In the economic area, Mr. Qumi said, Iran was ready to assume major responsibility for Iraq reconstruction, an area of failure on the part of the United States since American-led forces overthrew Saddam Hussein nearly four years ago.

Read the rest at the NY Times

Related Link:
Source: Baghdad death squad leaders have fled to Iran with Maliki encouragement

Related Link:
Bush defends targetting Iranians in Iraq

Related Link:
Report:Bush 'authorizes' troops to kill Iranians in Iraq as part of wider Mideast offensive

Related Link:
Ambassador: U.S. seeks to break Iraq's ties to Iran

Related Link:
Analysis: Surging towards Iran

Related Link:
Analysis: Scant evidence found of Iran-Iraq arms link

Related Link:
Iraqi Police Detain 3 Iranians in Mosul

Related Link:
Sources: U.S. launches CIA-Seal-Delta armed task force against Iranians in Iraq

Related Link:
Iraq Foreign Minister Signals Changes in Protocols With Iran

Related Link:
al-Hakim: U.S. arrest of Iranians an 'attack on Iraq's sovereignity'

Related Link:
Perspective: Opening a New Front in the War, Against Iranians in Iraq

Related Link:
Perspective: Iran aiding or abetting in Iraq?

Related Link:
Iraq Foreign Minister calls for release of Iranians; says U.S. using 'hyperbole to justify their acts'

Related Link:
Military: Iranians were destabilizing gov't; Cheney: Iran not welcome in Iraq; Hadley: "We will disrupt"

Related Link:
U.S. contradicts Iraqi Foreign Minister on seized Iranians

Related Link:
Rice Says Bush Authorized Iranians’ Arrest in Iraq

Related Link:
Iranians seized by U.S. had Iraq approval

Related Link:
Sources: U.S. plans tough moves on Iranians and Syrians in Iraq

Related Link:
Report: U.S. Troops Raid Iranian Consulate in Iraq

Related Link:
Report: Arrested Iranians were senior intelligence officers

Related Link:
Sources: Captured documents prove Iran supporting both Sunni and Shia to foment strife

Related Link:
Iraq 'Expels' 2 Iranians Detained by U.S.

Related Link:
Report: Two Iranians held by U.S. troops in Iraq are released

Related Link:
Exile Group: Captured Iranians Were Part of Elite Force

Related Link:
Iraqi President Talabani upset by arrest of Iranians by U.S. forces

Related Link:
U.S. Holding Iranians Seized in Iraq Raids

Related Link:
Analysis: Iran forging ahead in Iraq without U.S.

Related Link:
Iraqi president says security deal reached with Iran

Related Link:
Iraq, Iran to exchange intelligence