Former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on 24 December 2004 dismissed accusations of Iranian meddling in Iraq as "stupid," directing his criticism at members of Baghdad's interim government who had accused Tehran of working to destabilize the country. Speaking at Friday prayers in Tehran, his remarks aired live on Iranian state radio.
Rafsanjani argued that urging Iraqis to go to the polls did not constitute interference in a neighboring state's affairs. He characterized the critics as acting on Washington's behalf, pointing out that the same figures had been appointed by American officials.
Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi had made a similar appeal the day before, calling on all of Iraq's communities, including Shiites, Sunnis, Christians, and Turkmens, to cast ballots in the 30 January elections. He warned that sectarian boycott campaigns risked pushing the country into civil war and said every community deserved a place in the new Iraqi political order.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in December 2004, in its own words.