Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said he will make efforts to oust Iranian rebels based in Iraq, a long overdue Iranian demand expected to be raised during Ahmadinejad’s two-day visit.
Ahmadinejad’s visit will be closely watched by the US, which has about 150,000 troops in Iraq now.
“A visit to Iraq without the dictator is a truly happy one,” said Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, referring to Iran’s arch-foe Saddam Hussein.
Ahmadinejad, whose government is at odds with Washington over Tehran’s nuclear program, has repeatedly called for US forces to leave Iraq, and blamed the US for killing thousands of Iraqis since the invasion in 2003.
Stable Iraq
But the US says Tehran supplied weapons and training to Shiite militias to attack US troops, a charge Tehran denies. Analysts say Iran seeks a stable Iraq but also wants to attack the occupying US forces.
“A developed, powerful and united Iraq is to the advantage of everyone,” Ahmadinejad said.
Moreover, Talabani said Iraq has been trying to expel the Mujahadeen e-Khalq, a militant group opposed to Iran.
“The presence of those terrorists is forbidden by the constitution and we are working to get rid of them,” Talabani said.
Analysts say Ahmadinejad will use his visit to show Washington that Tehran is a power in the region that cannot be ignored. Iran has sought to counter US efforts to isolate Tehran over its nuclear programme issue.