Iraqi PM in Landmark Iran Visit

Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari has begun the first top-level visit to Iran since the two neighbours waged an eight-year war in the 1980s. More than 10 ministers are accompanying Mr Jaafari to open what Iranian media have called a new chapter in ties.

A new friendship is blossoming between Tehran and Baghdad to the consternation of the US, still bogged down in Iraq, says the BBC's Frances Harrison.

After decades of no diplomatic relations, Iraq now has a prime minister who has spent years in exile in Iran and heads a Shia-dominated government sympathetic to its neighbour, says our Tehran correspondent.

The Iranian press says this is the biggest Iraqi delegation to visit in 40 years.

"Everything is ready for bilateral co-operation with Iraq and we are ready to sign a security agreement during the visit," said Iran's Intelligence Minister Ali Yunesi.

The two sides are likely to focus on security issues like the continued presence of the armed Iranian opposition group, the People's Mujahideen in Iraq.

"The presence of the Mujahideen Khalq organisation's members in Iraq is against national interests of both countries and Iraqi officials had promised to expel them before," Mr Yunesi said, according to the Associated Press news agency.

But the delegations are also likely to discuss economic issues such as electricity, energy and water.

Iran's transport minister has said he expects a number of agreements to be signed to link Iran's rail network to that of Iraq and Syria.

There are also plans to start Iranian flights to Baghdad and Najaf and an oil pipeline is in the offing to take crude from Basra to be refined inside Iran.

Since the fall of Saddam Hussein, a booming trade in food and other commodities has started from Iran to the predominantly Shia south of Iraq, says our Tehran correspondent.

They have warned Iran not to interfere in Iraq, saying Tehran should not try to dominate certain institutions or areas of the country.

And although a million people died in the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, even that most sensitive issue is now being addressed, says our correspondent.

A week ago the Iraqi defence minister came to Tehran and asked for forgiveness for what Saddam Hussein had done to Iran - an unprecedented apology.

"But the Americans are uneasy, she says.
They have warned Iran not to interfere in Iraq, saying Tehran should not try to dominate certain institutions or areas of the country."

What has this to do with what the article made known. These damn L/MSM's must always throw something in to add a slant.
If what is made known is truthful and accurate, then the US would have no problem with this stuff. The idea is to secure a border between the two countries that once and for all puts the clamp on terrorist of any sort moving into Iraq. Further, the object of this whole deal of removing Saddam and installing a democractically elected government that truly represents all elements of Iraq is to neutralize/offset the cultural/Islamic driven agendas and force a national consent as how the government rules. We want the means to be put into effect that will enable the Iraqis to improve their oil industry for the good of all, think lower prices in the future for America, so how better to do it then have other countries start doing business with them. They need hard currency at this point. We cannot keep giving them money. And further, please let us remember that there are vast differences in how the Islamic Shiite majority in Iran (Persians who distrust Arabs), do business with Iraq and other nations primarily Arabs. Folks. Please do consider keeping things in the proper perspective.
Bottom line is Iraq does not want any external influences. And their soon to be permenant elected federal government will deal with Iran and other boardering nations just like any other country would. Thats my very abreviated take on this article.

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