TEHRAN (FNA)- A twitter post released by British Ambassador to Baghdad Stephen Hickey against the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s remarks during his recent visit to Iraq has provoked tough reaction from the side of social media users and politicians in the Arab country.
In a twitter post earlier this week, Hickey had welcomed Zarif’s comments about Iran’s interest in having a powerful and stable Iraq as its neighbor, but meantime, accused Tehran of supporting militant groups which who operate beyond the Iraqi government’s control.
In reaction to his remarks, the Iraqi social media users blasted Hickey for interfering in their country’s internal affairs and the #British_Ambassador_Should_Shut_His_Mouth became a trend in twitter.
Also, Iraqi politicians, including Na’im al-Aboudi, a member of the parliament’s al-Sadiqoun Fraction, warned the British envoy not to cross diplomatic borders.
Meantime, Spokesman of Hezbollah al-Nujaba, a major Iraqi Shiite resistance movement fighting the ISIL, Nasr al-Shammari angrily reacted to Hickey’s remarks.
He asked him if Britain allows Iraq to have 20 military bases in the European state or establish an embassy with 15,000 personnel.
Al-Shammari called on Hickey to stop lies and deceitful measures, be a representative of his own country (not the US) and stop meddling with issues unrelated to him and his country.
Speaking to reporters in a joint press conference after meeting his Iraqi counterpart Fo’ad Hossein in Baghdad, Zarif underlined the need for the establishment of tranquility in the region, saying that Tehran is interested in having a powerful and peaceful Iraq along its border.
“A powerful Iraq full of peace and tranquility with constructive and good relations with all its neighbors is equal to power, tranquility, stability and peace of ourselves and we welcome Iraq’s effective role in the powerful and peaceful Persian Gulf region,” Zarif said.
He added that presidents of the two countries have agreed to increase their volume of trade ties to $20bln during President Rouhani’s visit to Iraq, and said, “We are not so much far from that goal and we will certainly adopt joint measures to this end.”
“Iraq is one of prioritized neighbors in our economic and trade relations,” Zarif said.
He also referred to the US assassination of top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani and al-Muhandis, in January, and said it was a big harm to the war on terrorism in the region and Iran and Iraq will pursue the case in cooperation with each other.
“It is highly important to us to see that the national sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of our neighbors does not come under aggression by foreigners,” Zarif stressed.
