US Policies Detrimental to Americans: Iran’s President
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the US government’s policies on the Middle East are detrimental not only to the region, but also to the American people.
"These destabilizing actions of the US in the region will undoubtedly be detrimental to the peoples of the region, and even the American people," Rouhani said in a telephone conversation with his Iraqi counterpart Barham Salih on Monday.
Congratulating the Iraqi leader, government and nation on the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, Rouhani said,
"The two countries have similar views regarding critical regional and international issues, and I hope we can further deepen ties through more cooperation."
"We are seriously seeking to develop our friendly relations with Iraq," the president’s official website quoted Rouhani as saying.
He also slammed the Israeli air raids on Gaza, saying, "These acts of aggression of the Zionist regime are happening every day and it is essential that Islamic countries become more active in this field and prevent these acts."
Decrying Washington’s destabilizing actions in the region, including its attempts to hamper Iran's oil exports, Rouhani said, "All regional countries need to understand the current critical conditions and cooperate with each other to stop US' bullying aimed at creating instability in the region."
For his part, the president of Iraq said the relations between Iran and Iraq are based on strong historical and cultural pillars and the common interests of the two nations.
“We are determined to develop these relations… We are attempting to improve bilateral relations based on the good agreements made between the two countries to serve our nations," Salih added.
The Iraqi president also described the current circumstances in the region as a matter of concern, saying, "We have voiced our stances about regional issues clearly. Iraq is against any tensions in the region and we will never accept the smallest harm to the people of our Muslim and brotherly neighbor, Iran."
Salih stressed that the stances of Iran and Iraq towards Palestine are the same, and said, "As the leaders of Islamic countries, our duty is to help the oppressed people of Palestine and end the Zionist regime's acts of aggression."