"Iran sees the proposed Iraq-US security agreement as a domestic issue" Manouchehr Taslimi, spokesman for Iran's Embassy, said.

"It respects the views of the Iraqi government and people in approving (or rejecting) the deal."

US President George W. Bush and Maliki agreed last November to sign the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) in Iraq by the end of July, but it has been delayed.

The proposed pact will decide the future presence of American forces in Iraq after the December 31 expiration of the UN mandate, which currently acts as the legal basis for their presence in the country.

If ratified by the Iraqi government, SOFA would also grant US forces in Iraq immunity from prosecution.

It also gives the occupation forces a free rein to stage military operations wherever and whenever they deem necessary, without consulting the Iraqi government.

Tehran is concerned that the yet-not-concluded security deal could lead to establishment of permanent US bases in the neighboring country.

"The presence of foreign troops in Iraq is not in the interest of the regional countries and causes a number of problems especially in straining ties between Iran and Iraq and the Persian Gulf countries," the spokesman noted.

"The US would continue to accuse Iran of false claims once they feel their policies are going to fail."

The United States accuses Iran of aiding Iraqi armed groups with weapons to attack the US troops in Iraq. Tehran has vehemently denied the charge.

"Parliament's rejection of the US commanders' accusations of bribes and the demonstrations staged by the Sadrist movement are clear evidence that the US is fabricating charges against Iran," he explained.

The Washington Post reported the U.S commander of troops in Iraq general Odierno accused Iran of trying to bribe some MPs to derail the security deal between Iraq and the US

The proposed pact is also facing widespread opposition among Iraqi people and politicians. Around half a million of Iraqis thronged the streets of Baghdad during the weekend in opposition to the measure.

Many fear Washington has plans to keep permanent bases, despite a denial of any such plan written into the proposal. Iraqis say the drafts submitted by the Americans thus far would infringe on Iraq's sovereignty by giving US forces too much freedom to operate.

The security pact also faces strong criticism from members of al-Maliki's own coalition. Two Iraqi officials familiar with the negotiations have warned that a deal is unlikely to be reached before the end of President Bush's term in January unless Washington backs off some demands seen as giving American forces too much freedom to operate in Iraq and infringing on Iraqi sovereignty.

Iraq's parliament must approve the deal, and the two officials said opposition in the legislature was so widespread that it stood no chance of winning approval without significant changes in the US position. 
 

Source: Farsnews Agancy, 23 October 2008