In the current situation in the Middle East the issue of relations between Iran and Iraq relations has become increasingly important which needs special attention. 

During the Saddam rule, Iraq was a real threat to Iran's national security. However, after the fall of Saddam’s regime, the situation changed and Iraq turned into an opportunity for Iran. 

Hassan Kazemi Qomi, the first Iranian Ambassador to Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein, tells the Tehran Times that Iran and Iraq complement each other.

The following is the text of the interview: 

In the following interview, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, the first Iranian Ambassador to Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein, discusses with Tehran Times the relations between the two countries and the new developments in this regard.

Q: You were Iran's ambassador to Iraq in a quite sensitive period, at a time that Saddam's regime was toppled and the United States played a very important role in the country. How do you assess the situation in Iraq after the fall of Saddam? Is it a threat to Iran or is it an opportunity? 

A: This issue is dependent on two factors; first the features of Iraq and the second is the rule and establishment governing the country. Neighboring countries of Iran and Iraq are religiously and culturally linked. They share a long border which creates a great opportunity for cooperation.

However the presence of foreign forces has created many threats as well. The new Iraq with a new constitution and a new political structure and a parliament, elected on the basis of direct vote of the people, is not only an opportunity for Iran, but it can be regarded as a great opportunity for the Islamic world. Iran is also regarded as an opportunity for Iraq, because the Iranian government is doing its best to help reconstruct and secure the country. Therefore, Iran and Iraq play a complementary role for each other. 

Q: Iran suffered greatly in 8 years of imposed war during the Saddam regime, but so far the Iranian government has not sought war reparations from Iraq. However, the Kuwaitis were quite active in seeking reparations from Iraq. Does Iran have similar plans in this regard?

A: After the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the U.S. and its allies formed a bloc against Saddam in the UN Security Council under the pretext of supporting Kuwait. Paying compensations or enforcing the no-fly zone in northern and southern Iraq was in fact a product of such an alliance. However, the case of Iran is totally different from Kuwait because Iran is the opposite side of the U.S. in terms of regional policies. Nevertheless, Iran will continue its support to the Iraqi government and nation but it does not necessarily mean that Iran will call off claiming the war reparations, because the Iranian nation has suffered too much during the Iraqi imposed war on Iran. 

Q: Oil is certainly one of the main common features between the two countries. Obviously, finding access to Iraq’s oil reserves was one of the main reasons that the U.S. and allies occupied Iraq. Many believe that cooperation in oil industry has provided a great opportunity for cooperation between Iran and Iraq. Is there any firm plan on the Iranian side to make strides in this regard?

A: We follow a path of developing bilateral cooperation between the two countries, however, we must work together to create distinctive capabilities in terms of oil projects. This will be beneficial to peace and stability in the region and both countries will enjoy its short and long terms benefits. However, Iran’s economic cooperation with Iraq is not only restricted to oil. Politically and ethnically, Iraq has a diverse situation, but the country wants to play a better role in the market economy in which competition is regarded as one of the main features. Based on these criteria both governments decided to establish Committee on Economic Development of Iran–Iraq which is aimed at raising the involvement of the public and private sectors in economic activities.

 

Q: There are rumors that the Iraqi officials are trying to revise the 1975 Algiers Agreement. Given the increasing influence of Iran in the current situation of Iraq, do the Iranian officials have any firm plan to stabilize the agreement?

A: Over the past few years (the fall of Saddam, the occupation of Iraq and the practice of democracy in the country) we have tried to adopt two major policies. First we supported the government and people of Iraq to form their own political system. The main policy in this regard was to stabilize the borders and to raise the level of security in border areas. To maximize these objectives, Iran even accepted to hold talks with the United States, because Iran believes that a stable Iraq will benefit both countries. 

The second policy was to resolve the old disputes and to strengthen bilateral relations based on the will and determination of both governments. Therefore, indirect and unreliable quotes from Iraqi officials concerning the rejection of this 1975 agreement are totally baseless, because the Iraqis believe in this agreement as an undeniable fact. 

For example, responding to a question asked by one of Iranian journalists in the recent meeting between head of Iran’s Physical Education Organization, Ali Saeedloo and Iraq’s president, Jalal Talabani, the president clearly expressed his view in Farsi and called on both sides to sign a new strategic deal to raise the level of cooperation between the two countries. This indicates that the Iraqi officials have no objection to the 1975 agreement as portrayed by the Western media.  

Q: You have numerously insisted on establishing a new mechanism for better traffic of the Iranian pilgrims to the holy shrines in Iraq. In the current situation, there are still bombings and terrorist attacks in Iraq which create lots of threats for the Iranian pilgrims. What major steps have been taken by the Iranian government and its embassy in Iraq to protect the lives of Iranian nationals in Iraq? 

A: We believe that we must accept the realities of relations between the two countries. When the border was opened for the first time, there was only one bus carrying a maximum of 200 pilgrims per day to the holy shrines. However, today, based on the official statistics released by Iranian officials, more than 4000 passengers per day are travelling to Iraq under an impressive level of security. The number of pilgrims is instantly increasing every day and we are working even for a better and easier access of the Iranians to the holy shrines.

In addition to the trips made through border crossings, we are trying to increase the flights as well. All these indicate the willingness of both governments to develop the infrastructure needed for religious tourism in the future.

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