Tehran plays down Iraqi delegation visit to Iran

Tehran plays down Iraqi delegation visit to IranTehran  - Tehran is playing down a visit by an Iraqi delegation to Iran reportedly to deliver a demand by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki from the Islamic state to stop support for Shiite militias in southern Iraq, state media reported Friday.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini told the official IRNA news agency that the visit was aimed at discussing the latest developments in Iraq and settling "ongoing differences and clashes in Iraq."

The spokesman added that the visit of the Iraqi delegation was in line with Tehran's policy to restore stability and security in Iraq.

While blaming the presence of alien troops as the main problem in Iraq, Hosseini said Iran will continue using all its capacity to help the Iraqi government and nation.

Shiite Iran has several times categorically rejected Iraqi and US charges of intervening in Iraqi affairs, especially for Shiites in southern Iraq and stressed that the country would regard Iraqi security like its own. (dpa)