In a statement on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi strongly
condemned the White House statement on Iran’s role in the Basra chaos, slamming
it as "invalid, astonishing, provocative and irresponsible.”
Blaming the US government’s meddlesome actions and interference as the root
cause of instability, unrest and tensions in the region, Qassemi said, "That
country’s (US) policies toward Iraq have led to nothing but insecurity and
instability.”
He also slammed the recent chaos in Iraq and a mob attack on the Iranian
consulate in Basra as a result of the American policies and Washington’s "overt,
covert, unwise and short-sighted” support for the groups spreading violence and
extremism.
"The US government must be held accountable for its years-long supports for such
(extremist) groups in the region,” the Iranian spokesman added.
He also underlined that the US push to pin the blame on the others would not
whitewash its role in fomenting tensions and in attacks on the diplomatic
missions in Iraq and elsewhere.
"Today, many government officials, politicians, and intellectuals around the
world are well aware of the United States’ growing role in creation of
instability and insecurity and of its bully-style excessive demands,” Qassemi
added, reminding Washington that such amateurish efforts to shift the blame onto
others could not cover up its "wrong, fruitless and destabilizing policies.”
Reaffirming Iran’s commitment to the policy of safeguarding peace, stability and
security in the regional countries, Qassemi concluded, "A safe and developed
Iraq has been always among the Islamic Republic of Iran’s demands and
priorities; and plots by the third parties could not obstruct the expansion of
such age-old and strong relations (between Iran and Iraq).”
In a statement on Tuesday, the White House press secretary said Iranian-backed
forces in Iraq had carried out "life-threatening attacks” against the US
consulate in Basra and the US embassy in Baghdad.
"The United States will hold the regime in Tehran accountable for any attack
that results in injury to our personnel or damage to United States Government
facilities. America will respond swiftly and decisively in defense of American
lives,” the statement added.
On September 7, a mob of angry protestors stormed into the Iranian consulate in
Basra, destroyed the diplomatic mission’s properties, took down the flag of Iran
and torched the building.
The consulate’s building was not the first to be set on fire. The angry
demonstrators had earlier set government buildings ablaze as well. The buildings
included the headquarters of the local government, the ruling Dawa Party, the
Supreme Islamic Council and the Badr Organization.
Source:Tasnim