A recent claim by an Iranian official that his country was behind the execution of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was met with a wave of criticism in Baghdad.
Politicians have called on the government to respond to such "unacceptable interference" in their country's internal affairs.
During a television interview, member of the Supreme Council for the Cultural Revolution, Rahimpour Azghadi, said five countries are under the control of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
"Iran has killed the former regime president, Saddam Hussein, after the United States sought to retain him. Our group hanged Saddam Hussein and not the Americans," he added.
"It is time to declare the Persian Empire in the region," Azghadi concluded.
Former Iraqi MP Hasan al-Allawi said the Iraqi government must set the record straight concerning these statements.
He told Asharq Al-Awsat if Iraqi officials remain silent, whether over these statements or any other, including those of Ali Akbar Velayati, they will validate Tehran's claims that it is managing Iraq’s affairs.
Statements made by Iranian officials aim at informing the Iraqi public that there is no such thing as sovereignty of states.
As if Iran is saying "we are the guardians of Iraq and the capabilities of this country depend on us."
Allawi explained that a statement claiming Iran’s execution of Saddam Hussein will lead to confusion. He also wondered about former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's position on such an announcement knowing that Saddam was executed during his first term and with his approval.
"It is his (Maliki) responsibility to correct the course of events," he concluded.
In addition, senior official of Badr Organization Karim al-Nouri told Asharq Al-Awsat that Azghadi’s statement is insulting to Iran's allies and its rivals.
"US provided protection for Saddam's trial, but the decision to execute him was purely Iraqi," Nouri reiterated.
The Badr official wondered – in reference to Maliki - why officials responsible for the execution remained "silent.”
"Al-Sumaria News" website also quoted top official at "Iraqi Front for National Dialogue" Haider al-Mulla as saying: "Iraq will not be part of the policy of sectarian wars that Iran seeks to create in the region in search for its alleged empire."
In a statement, Mullah called on the Iraqi Foreign Ministry to take a "clear position from these transgressions that affect Iraq's sovereignty."
He added that Tehran must realize that the policy of exporting the crisis will reflect on it, especially after the international community began to realize the risks of its expansionist policies on the security and stability of the region.
