TEHRAN, Aug 2 (AFP) - The Iranian government denied Monday that it was being snubbed by Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who was wrapping up a seven-nation tour aimed at normalising ties across the region.
A government spokesman said that given a visit had not yet been scheduled, it would be wrong to say any mission had been cancelled.
"Nothing has been planned through the concerned channels and no timetable has been set," Abdollah Ramazanzadeh told reporters, asked if Allawi had chosen to snub Iran amid allegations of interference in Iraq by the Islamic republic.
A spokesman for Allawi in Baghdad also denied the reports and said the prime minister still planned to visit Tehran as part of a tour of Islamic countries including Turkey but that the date would be set after he returned home from his current tour.
"His excellency (Allawi) is eager to develop relations with neighbouring Iran and although we admit there are differences between our two countries, they will be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue, in keeping with the interests and security of both peoples," said Gurgis Hormuz Sada.
Prior to Allawi`s two-week-long tour, Iranian government officials said Allawi was expected to visit Tehran.
But there has been a war of words between the two sides since Iraqi Defence Minister Hazem al-Shaalan told the Washington Post last week that he had seen "clear interference in Iraqi issues by Iran" and accused Tehran of working "to kill democracy" in his country.
The Islamic republic has rejected Shaalan`s allegations, with Tehran describing the defence minister`s statements as "contrary to the official message we get from Baghdad".