BAGHDAD — One of Iran’s most powerful political and religious figures — former President Hashemi Rafsanjani — promised Monday to assist in Iraq’s reconstruction after nearly six years of war that has involved Shiite militias with suspected links to Tehran.
“We hope the era of conflict and hardships for Iraq is coming to an end,” Rafsanjani told reporters in his first visit to Iraq since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iran, a predominantly Shiite country, has close ties with Iraq’s Shiite-led government and seeks to expand its commercial links as Iraq looks ahead to projects to rebuild roads and core services such as electrical networks and sewers.
Rafsanjani’s visit came three days after President Barack Obama announced the U.S. military would end its combat mission in Iraq in August 2010 but leave up to 50,000 soldiers in support roles until the end of 2011.
Iran claims Washington may try to exert influence over Iraq even after its troops are gone to maintain pressure on Iran’s doorstep.
Rafsanjani’s visit also will be closely watched for any signals that Tehran may be willing to hold talks with the U.S. American officials have accused Iran of aiding Shiite militants who have attacked U.S. forces. Tehran has denied the charges.
Rafsanjani, an influential Shiite ayatollah, was Iran’s president in 1989-97 but was defeated in a presidential comeback bid in 2005.
In another development, an Iraqi judge handed down death sentences for three former officials in Saddam Hussein’s regime for slayings and abuses inflicted on Shiites a decade ago. The defendants included Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as “Chemical Ali” for ordering poison-gas attacks on Iraqi Kurds in the 1980s. This was his third death sentence for brutalities during Hussein’s rule.
Also sentenced to death were Mahmoud Faizi al-Hazaa, a former intelligence official, and Aziz Saleh al-Numan, a top Baath Party official in the Baghdad region. Three other former Hussein officials received life sentences and two were acquitted, including former Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz, who faces other charges and remains in custody.
In violence Monday, two bombs killed at least four people in Shiite areas of Diyala province, north of Baghdad. Also, an American soldier died of wounds suffered in combat north of Baghdad, the U.S. military said.
