Iranians Pay Visit to Iraq
Iranian officials met Monday with Iraq’s U.S.-appointed governing council to talk about improving ties between the two former Persian Gulf foes.
The Iranian delegation, the first to visit Baghdad since Saddam Hussein was deposed in April, was led by Hussein Sadiqi, head of the Gulf Department at Iran’s Foreign Ministry.
U.S. officials have repeatedly warned Iran not to interfere in Iraq. President Bush named Iran in 2002 as a member of an “axis of evil,” along with Iraq and North Korea.
Sadiqi met Ayatollah Mohammed Bakr Hakim, leader of the formerly Tehran-based Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq. The group is represented on the council.
Sadiqi said in a statement that Iran was ready to help reconstruct Iraq and cooperate with the council.
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