Al-Hashemi noted that the absence of Iran at the global security conference recently held in Manama, Bahrain, was a loss for the meeting.
He dismissed speculations regarding competition between Iran and Saudi Arabia over Iraq.
He also insisted that the ongoing standoff over Iran's nuclear case could be
The Iraqi Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi has stressed that his country would never support the occurrence of a new war in the region.
Iraq has a different stance on Iran in comparison with the US, al-Hashemi said in an interview with the Bahrain daily Al-Waqt on Wednesday.
He made the statement in reaction to recent remarks by US Defense Secretary Robert Gates who said Iran remains a threat to the US despite the NIE report confirming Tehran does not seek nuclear weapons.
The Iraqi vice-president said that his country faces many difficulties and called on Tehran to help Baghdad settle its problems.
He stated that in case of a new war, all regional countries would sustain heavy costs.
Al-Hashemi noted that the absence of Iran at the global security conference recently held in Manama, Bahrain, was a loss for the meeting.
He dismissed speculations regarding competition between Iran and Saudi Arabia over Iraq.
He also insisted that the ongoing standoff over Iran's nuclear case could be settled through peaceful channels.
Al-Hashemi added that he agrees with the views of the Qatari premier and foreign minister who believe that holding talks with Iran should be put on the agenda of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council.
