Ambassador Rejects Media Report of Iran-Iraq Arms Deal
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Iran's Ambassador to Baghdad Hassan Danaeifar on Tuesday denied reports claiming that Iraq has signed a contract to purchase arms from the Islamic Republic.
Reuters claimed on Monday that Tehran and Baghdad have signed an arms deal in November, enabling Iraq to buy $195 million in arms from Iran.
In reply, Danaeifar denied such report on Tuesday, Iraq’s al-Qadir TV channel reported.
In the meantime, Chairman of the Security and Defense Committee at the Iraqi Parliament, Hassan al-Sanid, told reporters that Iraq is free to sign arms contracts with any country in the world, including Iran.
Following the report published by Reuters, the US pressed Iraq to give an explanation for the media reports, saying the move to sign such a deal is forbidden under a United Nations embargo.
"We've certainly seen those reports. If true, this would raise serious concerns," US State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.
"We are seeking clarification on this matter from the government of Iraq and to ensure that Iraqi officials understand the limits that international law places on arms trade with Iran," she added.