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Iranian Official Accuses al-Maliki of Surrendering to the US | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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London, Asharq Al-Awsat- Iran has condemned the strategic agreement between Iraq and the United States describing it as turning Iraq into an American colony and also attacked in a rare public criticism Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki saying he has give in to the Americans.

Hussein Shariatmadari, Adviser to the Supreme Guide of Iran and editor of state-owned Kayhan Newspaper told Asharq Al-Awsat, “One cannot answer yes or no about whether Iran believes that the agreement is bad”, adding that he was one of those who criticized the agreement and said at the same time he was expressing his personal view of the issue and not the official stand.

Shariatmadari said the strategic agreement between Iraq and the United States “is a return to the cold war between Iraq and Iran and the latter’s isolation”, adding that it turns Iraq into “an American satellite.”

In an editorial entitled “Grand Deception” in Keyhan, which reflects the Iranian ruling establishment’s view, Shariatmadari said the agreement denies the Iraqis self-determination and allows the United States to use the Iraqi territories, airspace, and territorial waters to attack countries in the region and also allows the Americans to remain in Iraq indefinitely.