Iran and Iraq agree to clear up oil well fracas.

This is interesting in that Mottaki the Iranian foreign minister seems to be denying that Iran actually seized the oil well involved although the use of weasel wording implies that something happened. The Iraqi claim was obviously not based on simply rumours! It is rather surprising that Iran would take any action that might provoke friction between Iran and Iraq at this time. Iran needs all the support and good relations in the area it can get right now and it had won a tremendous advantage as a result of the US invasion. The Shia majority in Iraq is powerful in the new Iraqi government unlike the situation under Hussein when the Sunni minority predominated. Iran has a Shia majority as well and good relations with many Iraqi politicians. This is from presstv.

Iran, Iraq agree to clear up oil well misunderstanding


Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki (L) and his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari (R) held a phone conversation on Saturday.
Iran and Iraq have decided to establish an arbitration commission to clear up the misunderstanding between the two countries over an oil well in the border region.

In a telephone conversation between Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari on Saturday, the two sides stressed the importance of implementing agreements to settle border disputes.

The two foreign ministers said that strengthening relations between the two regional powerhouses would be beneficial to the interests of the two nations and would help efforts to establish regional stability and peace.

They also said that Tehran and Baghdad would pay no heed to the enemy's clamor and would continue their joint consultations in line with their common interests.

The conversation between Mottaki and Zebari came after Iran rejected reports that its troops had taken over an oil well in Iraqi territory.

Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed Haj Aziz claimed that Iranian troops had seized an oil well in the Fakkeh border region on Thursday night.

In a phone interview with Press TV on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast described the reports as an attempt to harm the close relations between Tehran and Baghdad.

"Some media outlets are using incorrect language in these reports. This choice of words is not in line with Iran-Iraq ties," Mehman-Parast told Press TV.

SF/SS/HGL