In an interview with Azzaman daily, Ayad Allawi, former Iraqi Prime Minister and head of the Iraqi National List, called the Iranian regime’s meddling in Iraq dangerous and emphasized on the legitimacy of presence of the PMOI in Iraq.

Ayad Allawi called the Iranian regime’s pressures for expulsion of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) the indication of Iraqi government’s weakness with regard to that regime.

He said: All Islamic, Arabic and international traditions and principles recognize acceptance of political refugees. The PMOI is presently a political movement, part of them are in Iraq under restriction, part of them are in Iran and the third part are present all over the world; their leaders are in Europe and based on our information some of the decision making American authorities meet with them.

Ayad Allawi added: The expulsion of the PMOI from Iraq is out of the context of Iraqis’ principles and values. The Iraqi government should have courage and talk to the Iranian regime in this regard and asks the Iranian regime not to meddle in Iraq’s affairs.

Azzaman added: Former Iraqi Prime Minister called Ahmadinejad’s remarks regarding filling the Iraq’s security vacuum very dangerous and worrisome, and expressed his concerns of Maliki’s government for lack of response regarding these remarks.

Allawi said: These remarks is indicative of Ahmadinejad’s ill-intentions with respect to Iraq and what is more concerning is that Ahmadinejad called opponents of Iraqi Prime Minister corrupt before al-Maliki, but the Iraqi government didn’t respond to it.