In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat daily, Published in London, Oct. 23, 2008, Methal al-Aalusi, head of the Umma party of Iraq revealed that Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s ambassador in Baghdad attempted to give bribe and financial and moral support to him.

Aalusi said, “Qomi told me that Iran pays 2 million dollars per month to a small organization like Shaheed Mehrab; how come it is not helping a big party as Umma party. By that he meant he wanted to give more than 2 million dollars per month to us.

Aalusi added that Qomi, who was accompanied by a mullah affiliated to one of the parties, spoke to him on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran.