Iran-UN-FM
Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Tuesday urged Washington to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq.

Mottaki, who is currently in New York to attend the ongoing high-level meeting of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) being held on June 30-July 3, made the remarks during a press conference.

The popular Iraqi government can manage all domestic affairs, including the terrorist movements, he added.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is interested in establishment of security and tranquility in Iraq, he said, stressing that Iraqi stability would benefit Iran.

Tehran enjoys friendly relations with all Iraqi politicians supporting the Iraqi government, Mottaki said, adding that the Islamic Republic has made great efforts to help settle different Iraqi problems in the past few years.

Tehran has been successful in mediating between different Iraqi political parties and groups several times, he said, adding that Iran is interested in peaceful settlement of all Iraqi issues.

Rejecting the US allegations against Iran, Mottaki regretted that Washington accuses Iran of interfering in domestic affairs of the country.

Regional security issues belong to all regional countries therefore, having concern over such issues does not mean interfering in other countries' affairs, he added.

On a security pact to be signed between Baghdad and Washington, Mottaki said several Iraqi religious leaders and authorities dismiss the agreement as arbitrary.