But on Friday, the Arab-language daily Asharq al-Awsat reported that an Iraqiya spokesman quickly dismissed the allegation.
Meyson al-Damlouji said such stories disseminated by the Iranian regime are “comical and ludicrous.”
In a phone interview from Baghdad with Asharq al-Awsat, Mr. al-Damlouji described the claim as “ridiculous” because “the stance of Dr. Allawi and of Iraqiya bloc’s officials with respect to Iran’s meddling is well known and all of us stand against the regime’s influence in Iraq.”
The goal of such claims is to insult the leaders and members of the Iraqiya bloc and to portray its parliamentary faction as weak, al-Damlouji added.
“Such false statements are released at a time when Dr. Allawi is preparing to assume his responsibilities as the chairman of the most important political council, the Council for Strategic Policies,” he said. “And Iran knows Allawi is opposed to its influence in Iraq.”
Mr. al-Damlouji added, “If Dr. Allawi sought to gain power and privilege through making concessions to Iran, he would have accepted multiple invitations to visit Tehran, all of which he in fact refused.”
“We believe that Iraqiya was, in accordance with its electoral and legal rights, responsible for forming a new government, and the leader of Iraqiya did not need to make concessions to Iran and others.”
The Iraqiya spokesman added, “When Allawi was prime minister, he said the PMOI, whose members were disarmed, are political refugees and their status is subject to the Fourth Geneva Convention. Iranian regime leaders know full well that Iraq will not expel anyone who has taken refuge in it.”
Camp Ashraf, Iraq, is located in Iraq’s Diyala province. It is home to 3,400 members of the main Iranian opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
On Friday, Iranian regime agents, with the backing of the Iraqi prime minister’s office, attacked the residents of Camp Ashraf, injuring hundreds of the residents, including dozens of women.