Iran-Iraq-Rafsanjani
Expediency Council Chairman Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said here Tuesday that Iran wishes to see a secure, free and united Iraq.

"Preparing conditions for Iraqi people to decide their fate and foreign troop pullout would guarantee a bright future for the Iraqi people," Ayatollah Rafsanjani told a group of Iraqi cultural and arts figures.

He said Iraq occupiers' blame game on Iran that the country interferes in Iraq's domestic affairs is a 'big and gross lie'.

He added that the baselessness of the occupiers' pretext to guarantee security, fight terrorism and pursuing humanitarian objectives in occupying Iraq has become clear today.

"They engage in a blame game to justify their continued occupying presence in Iraq," announced Rafsanjani, adding that the US insistence to ink long-term security accord with Iraq is in fact meant to prepare the ground for continued occupation of the country.

He added that the Iraqi people can through unity and solidarity and avoiding tension prevent such acts of the occupiers.

Calling Iraq a country which is rich in the God given resources, Rafsanjani said such blessings makes responsibility of the Iraqi people in moving in the path of development, Islam, freedom and independence heavier.

He said Iran can reap enormous benefits for both Iranian and Iraqi people if it is accorded a share in process of the country's reconstruction.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Rafsanjani lauded the key role of Iraqi religious figures in Iraq reconstruction.

"Iraqi people have got rid of despotism but are trapped in occupation and colonialism. Now they can change conditions by relying on their historical background," he announced.

Iraqi figures in separate speeches in the meeting urged Iran to provide more facilities for visit of Iraqi tourists and pilgrims to Iran.

They also asked for the establishment of Iraq culture house in Iran to make both Iranian and Iraqi nations acquainted with each other's rich culture.