Iran accuses US of 'pillaging' Iraq (updated)

UPDATES: PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico (AP) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice dismissed Iran's attempt to quash a proposed security deal between Iraq and the United States but offered no new assurances Thursday that Iraq will eventually accept U.S. terms. «I think the Iraqis can defend their interests without the Iranians thank you very much _ that hasn't been the happiest relationship, ever,» Rice said during a brief diplomatic visit to Mexico. Rice repeated U.S. claims that Iran arms Iraqi militants in their campaign of sectarian violence, and brushed off remarks this week from hardline Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that neighboring Iraq can shake off «the influence of foreigners. «Frankly, I don't take those comments very seriously,» Rice said.

...Iran, which is close to Shiite parties who dominate Iraq's government, has repeatedly expressed its opposition to any security deal that allows American forces to remain in Iraq.
The Iraqi prime minister, who is a Shiite, fears he could end up politically isolated if he pushes forward with the agreement without solid backing. He has also tried to reassure Iran that an agreement for ongoing U.S. military operations in Iraq does not give the United States a launching pad for any attack on Iran. Iraq's Cabinet decided Tuesday to ask the U.S. for changes to the draft agreement as key Shiite lawmakers warned the deal stands little chance of approval as it stands. The decision also raised doubts that the agreement can be ratified before a new American president is elected next month. Senior defense officials have repeatedly said that the U.S. is still focusing its efforts on getting the agreement signed, rather than pursuing an extension of the existing U.N. mandate that gives U.S. and coalition troops the authority to be in Iraq..-led military mission to stay on. This in turn could force hard decisions in Baghdad and Washington on the future of the unpopular war.

 

Iran has said the proposed US-Iraq security pact is aimed at keeping Iraq weak in order to help the United States "pillage" the country. Ali Kordan, Iran's interior minister, reiterated Tehran's opposition to the deal on Thursday during a meeting in Jordan with his counterparts from Iraq, Turkey and Gulf Arab states. "Iran opposes any document that would threaten Iraq's interests," Kordan said.  The draft deal to replace a UN mandate expiring this year calls for US combat forces to withdraw by the end of 2011 and includes US concessions on jurisdiction over its troops accused of "serious crimes" while off duty or off base.  The Iraqi cabinet decided on Tuesday to seek certain revisions to the draft, triggering warnings from senior US military and political figures about the risks of not agreeing to a deal.
'Iranian interference': The United States has accused Iran of "undermining" the deal, with Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state saying: "I think the Iraqis can defend their interests without the Iranians, thank you very much." "What the Iranians were doing was arming special groups in the south who were killing innocent Iraqis. So frankly I don't take these comments very seriously," she said.  Rice also reiterated that the security pact - that has been the subject of months of difficult negotiations with the Iraqis - was "a good agreement".