Iran accused the United States of using terrorism to further its goals in the Middle East Wednesday, after its oil delegation was attacked by "terrorists" during a diplomatic visit to Iraq.
Iraqi Interior Ministry sources confirmed a visiting Iranian convoy came under fire in central Baghdad and that two Iraqi guards were wounded, but did not speculate on the identity of the attackers.
"The delegation was attacked by terrorists ... but they are not harmed and have no problems," the sources told Reuters.
Iran Blames US of Using Terror to Sow Instability
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Saeed Jalili, however, told Iraq's Foreign Minister, Hoshyar Zebari, that the attack proved the United States was using terrorism to advance its Mideast agenda. Jalili cited the continued presence of the People's Mujahadeen Organization of Iran (PMOI) after the US invasion in 2003 as 'proof' of his claims.
Iraq has long hosted a PMOI operations base at Camp Ashraf, 65km (40 miles) north of Baghdad, which the US turned over to Iraqi officials in 2009 as part of a bilateral security agreement. The PMOI has, for decades, advocated the overthrow of the Islamic Republic of Iran in place since 1979.
The US proposed a temporary relocation of Ashraf's residents within Iraq, pending eventual resettlement in third countries, but the PMOI's umbrella group -- the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) -- has rejected the proposal to date.
“The opposition of some powers to the Iraqi government's constructive initiative to eradicate the causes for the growth of terrorism in the country is indicative of these powers' double standard policies,” Jalili was quoted as saying.
“The support of these powers for the continuation of the presence of terrorists in Iraq not only indicates their …. [all-out] support for terrorism in the region, but also clearly unveils the American conspiracy to institutionalize insecurity and instability in Iraq,” Jalili added.
Iran has long been suspected by US officials, their Western counterparts, and officials in Baghdad, of supporting the terrorist Jihad insurgency that plagues Iraq today.
Iranian Overtures Comes As US Withdraws Troops
Jalili also hailed the Iraqi government and nation's resolve to see the withdrawal of the US forces from the country.
“The experience of the past several years showed that the Iraqi government and people have the necessary capability to provide security and the presence of occupiers has resulted in nothing but insecurity in Iraq,” Jalili said.
Under the US-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), Washington is mandated to withdraw its 50,000-strong force from Iraq by December 31, 2011. But US officials are now pressing Baghdad to allow an extension of the US military presence.
However, according to Iraqi officials, local security forces are now completely capable of maintaining stability in the country.