Iran Press/Middle East: Iraj Masjidi, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Baghdad, in an interview with Al-Monitor website, which was published on Saturday, stated that the bilateral relations between the two countries are an internal issue.
He added: "Iran and Iraq, as historical neighbors, have many common ties that tie the fate of the two countries together."
"The Islamic Republic of Iran seeks to strengthen security, order, and reconstruction in Iraq," Masjidi said.
The presence of foreign forces, including US troops in Iraq, creates instability, the growth of terrorism, and security challenges.
The Iranian ambassador to Iraq noted: "The presence of the Americans anywhere in the world will only lead to more insecurity, the growth of terrorism and the creation of a colonial mechanism."
Emphasizing Tehran's "full support for the Iraqi government," Masjidi said: "Irrespective of any decision by Iraq to continue the presence or withdrawal of US troops, Iran's support for the Iraqi government is unconditional."
Asked about Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Sha'abi), the Iranian ambassador to Baghdad said it is an "internal matter."
Referring to the US terrorist act in the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes, deputy commander of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Unit near Baghdad airport, Masjidi said: "Should this terrorist act go unanswered?"
The Iranian ambassador to Baghdad also condemned US sanctions aimed at preventing the development of Baghdad-Tehran cooperation and expressed hope that the Iranian-Iraqi border barriers would be removed in the near future.
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