Kazemi Qomi, a Quds Force commander and the ambassador to Baghdad of the Iranian regime which has long advocated an Iraqi government dominated only by groups closely linked to it, said Saturday that Iraq's new government should include all political blocs.
Told of Iranian regime envoy's comments endorsing Iraqiya as the Sunni voice in the new government, Hill abruptly dismissed the input, saying: "My suggestion to him would be to leave that up to the Iraqis," Associated Press reported.
In an article published on Sunday in The Washington Post, U.S. Vice President Biden offered an optimistic assessment of Iraq after last month's parliamentary election, saying that Iranian regime's covert bid for influence there had been "clobbered" and that Baghdad appears headed toward an "inclusive" coalition government.
He disclosed that Iranian regime had spent up to $100 million to back his favored parties and subvert the Iraqiya bloc. Bolstered by a strong Sunni turnout, Iraqiya ended up winning the largest number of seats.
"It was a real stick in the eye of the Iranians," Biden said of Iranian regime's unsuccessful campaign to steer the election outcome. What's more, he said, Tehran's post-election effort to pressure Iraqi leaders who visited Tehran "has turned out to backfire." Iraqi politicians had discovered "there's a real price to be paid . . . if it looks like you are seeking the approval or following the direction of the Iranians or any neighbor."