U.S. won’t solve its problems by tarnishing Iran’s image in Iraq – ambassador

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iran ‘s ambassador to Iraq , Hassan Kazemi Qomi, on Tuesday criticized the United States for anti-Iran propaganda in Iraq , saying Washington ‘s problems in Iraq could not be solved by accusing others. Qomi said that the anti-Iran propaganda in Iraq is against the national interest of the Iraqi nation and government. “Americans have faced serious failures in Iraq as far as they neglected the country’s national interest as well as cultural features of the region,” Qomi said in statements published by Iran ‘s Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). He added that U.S. officials were to distort the image of Iran among Iraqi people, on one hand, and put the blame on Iran for their failures in that country, on the other. “Whenever the U.S. faces a new challenge or deadlock in carrying out its plans in Iraq , like what is happening now in case of the deadlock over the security agreement with the Iraqi officials, it resorts to its failed policy of scapegoating others,” he said. Qomi made the remarks commenting on the U.S. latest wave of propaganda campaign in Iraq alleging that Iran is behind refusal of the Iraqi government to sign security accord with Washington . “Major regional media have recently disclosed that Pentagon has allocated a 300-million-dollar budget to tarnish Iran ‘s image in Iraq ,” the ambassador said. He added that four major companies were working on the Pentagon plan to destroy Iran ‘s image in Iraq ‘s public opinion by publishing insulting pictures and installing them on giant billboards and by forcing Iraqi media to broadcast fake movies against Iran . Asked if Iraq ‘s official media were under the U.S. influence, Qomi said both Iraqi government and its public opinion were aware of US plan to destroy Iran ‘s image in Iraq . However, added the diplomat, ” Tehran has voiced its protest in this connection to Baghdad stressing that continuation of those moves would be against national interest of both Iranian and Iraqi people and their governments.” Qomi said that Iran expected Iraq to take measures to maintain valuable achievements made in the field of Iran-Iraq relations. “The people and government of Iraq have consistently emphasized Iran ‘s positive role in restoring peace and stability to Iraq ,” said the ambassador. The United States , according to official Iraqi political sources, is accusing Iran of stirring violence in Iraq and training and financing armed so-called Special Groups, which it blames for assassinations and targeting anti-Iran figures. Iranian officials dismissed the accusations. AmR (I) 1