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Ahmadinejad: U.S. Claims 'Ridiculous'
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad described U.S. accusations against his country of meddling in Iraq as the "most ridiculous" of Washington's charges against Iran, state media reported Monday. The United States believes Iran is using its nuclear program as a cover to produce weapons. It has also criticized Shiite Iran for supporting Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon and Shiite militias in Iraq. Ahmadinejad made the comments as he comes under increasing fire domestically for Iran's economic woes that include spiraling prices for basic foodstuffs. A leading dissident cleric also recently criticized Ahmadinejad for putting too much energy into making inflammatory statements against the West and making lengthy foreign tours instead of tackling domestic problems.
"The most ridiculous of its claims is that Iran and Syria intervene in Iraqi domestic affairs," state television's official Web site quoted Ahmadinejad as saying during his meeting with the Syrian minister of communications.
Story Continues Below Denouncing Washington's Middle East policy including that on Iraq, Ahmadinejad accused the U.S. of not caring about the interests of countries in the region. He said that if countries acted together they "could prevent further problems." The United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions on Iran in December for failing to heed its request to halt uranium enrichment — a process used to make fuel to generate electricity but also to produce nuclear weapons. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem arrived in Tehran Monday for a two-day trip during which he is to meet Ahmadinejad and deliver a message to him from Syrian President Bashar Assad, state television reported. Iranian state media did not reveal the content of the message. It said the officials would discuss bilateral and regional issues. The visit began a day after Iranian top security official, Ali Larijani, visited Damsacus. The United States accuses Iran and Syria of meddling in neighboring Iraq — charges both countries deny. Visits between the two capitals by high-ranking officials are common.
© 2007 Associated Press.
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