Baghdad, December 29: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki says having “good and stable relations” with the Islamic Republic of Iran is in Baghdad’s interest.
“Iran is a neighboring country and we have historic ties and borders that stretch for 1,300 to 1,400 kilometers,” al-Maliki said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.
“Of course it’s in our interest to have good and stable relations with them,” he added.
Maliki also ruled out the continuation of the US occupation of Iraq past 2011, and said when the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) “expires on December 31, 2011, the last American soldier will leave Iraq.”
Washington invaded Iraq in 2003 under the pretext that the country was in possession of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
According to the California-based investigative organization Project Censored, over one million Iraqis have been killed since then.
The Iraqi premier explained that the SOFA is “not subject to extension, except if the new government with Parliament’s approval wanted to reach a new agreement with America, or another country.”
After eight months of political deadlock, Iraq’s main factions recently reached a power-sharing deal and agreed to form a national unity government.
The deal on top government posts brings together Shias, Sunnis and Kurds in an arrangement similar to the previous Iraqi government, which can help prevent religious or ethnic conflict in the country.
According to the agreement, Iraq’s incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s alliance will stay in office for another term, while Jalal Talabani from the Kurdish alliance will remain president.
—-Agencies