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IRAQ-IRAN-TURKEY-DIPLOMACY-ECONOMY-LEAD
Iraq PM cancels visit to sanctions-hit Iran
BAGHDAD, Aug 12, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has
cancelled a visit to Iran, his press office said Sunday, as the premier came
under strong Iranian criticism over his stand on renewed US sanctions against
Tehran.
Abadi will still go ahead with a planned visit to Turkey on Tuesday but has
scrapped the Iran leg of the trip “because of his busy schedule”, his office
said.
An Iraqi official had said Saturday that Abadi would visit both
neighbouring Turkey and Iran to discuss economic issues.
According to Iraqi political sources, speaking on condition of anonymity,
Iran initially agreed to the visit but changed its mind because it was
unhappy about Abadi’s remarks.
The premier said last Tuesday that Iraq — which relies on neighbouring
Iran as a source of cheap imports — would reluctantly comply with US
sanctions against Tehran that took effect the same day.
“We don’t support the sanctions because they are a strategic error, but we
will comply with them,” said Abadi, whose country is an ally of both Tehran
and Washington. “In general, sanctions are unjust.”
On Sunday, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s representative
in Baghdad lashed out at Abadi as the Tehran visit was called off.
“These irresponsible remarks have already been condemned by many people.
It’s a disloyal attitude towards the honest position of Iran and the blood of
the martyrs this country has spilt to defend the land of Iraq” against
jihadists, said Moujtaba al-Hussein.
“We are saddened by this position which shows he has been defeated
psychologically in the face of the Americans,” he said.
The US sanctions were reimposed after President Donald Trump withdrew from
a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.
In Tehran, the foreign ministry was more guarded about a possible visit by
Abadi.
A ministry spokesman said he had “so far not received any official news or
information whatsoever about this trip”, the semi-official ISNA news agency
reported.
BSS/AFP/RY/20:00 hrs