No truth to al-Hashemi claims: Iran

Press TV - Iran's ambassador to Iraq denies recent claims by Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi that Tehran has played a part in an arrest warrant being issued for him for involvement in acts of terror.

Al-Hashemi, who was charged by a court in Baghdad with involvement in terrorist activities and the assassination of Iraqi officials about two weeks ago, has claimed that Iran is behind the verdict.

Iran's Ambassador Hassan Danaifar said Friday that al-Hashemi's claims were mere lies and only made his case more complicated.

The Iranian diplomat also rejected some foreign media reports that Iran has been asked by Iraqi officials to mediate in al-Hashemi's case.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes that Tariq al-Hashemi's charges ... should be investigated by Iraq's judicial authorities…,” he added.

An arrest warrant for al-Hashemi was issued on Monday, December 19, after his bodyguards confessed that they had assassinated several Iraqi officials and army generals over the past years on his order. The warrant was issued under the anti-terror laws.

According to the bodyguards, a number of army generals, military officials, policemen, a health ministry official and a foreign ministry official were among the victims.

They said they received USD 3,000 for each mission.

They also said that Hashemi had threatened to kill them and their families if they refused to continue.

Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council, the highest office in the country's judicial system, has formed a five-member panel to investigate the charges of terrorism against Hashemi's guards. Earlier on Monday, the committee barred Hashemi from leaving the country.

On Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki asked parliament to relieve his deputy Saleh al-Mutlak from his duties over alleged involvement in acts of violence.