Iraqi official in Tehran to seek Iran's view on SOFA

7 October 2008

Tehran-Speaker of Iraq's parliament Mahmud Mashhadani said on Tuesday that he has come to Tehran to seek Iranian officials views about Iraq-US security agreement.

Speaking briefly to reporters upon his arrival to Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport, Mashhadani said that the draft Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) was handed over to the Iraqi government for final confirmation.

The plan is proposed by the US to provide a legal basis for the presence of troops in Iraq after the United Nations mandate expires at the end of the current Christian year.

"If be confirmed by the Iraqi government, the plan should be ratified by the Iraqi parliament and then be referred to the country's presidency council for final approval to take effect afterward," Mashhadani told reporters.

He added that the plan could be rejected if it (were) opposed at any of those stages by the Iraqi officials.

Mashhadani is in Tehran on a two-day official visit which is taking place at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart Ali Larijani.

He was welcomed at the airport by head of Iran's Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi.

He was due to arrive in Tehran on Monday but the plane carrying the Iraqi speaker was denied landing permission due to some technical problems.

While here, the Iraqi official will, in addition to conferring with Larijani, he will discuss major bilateral, regional and international developments with senior Iranian officials including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Chairman of Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi and Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili.

Mashhadani will leave Iran for Syria on wednesday to take part in a meeting of the Arab states parliamentary union.