(dpa) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said his country does not intervene in Iraqi affairs, assuring that his visit to Baghdad, scheduled for Sunday, will not respond to the US desires or any secret political deals, media reports in Iraq said Saturday.
"There are no Iranian interventions in the Iraqi issue. These allegations appeared due to the American failure in war management, including its failure in Iraq," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying in the Iraqi al-Sabah newspaper.
He added that his visit to Baghdad explains the Iranian wish to maintain good relations with all countries in the region, particularly with Iraq.
"Iran seeks friendly relations with all states in the region and aims at making Iraq a spot for open dialogue, rather than being an area of conflict," the Iranian president said.
The state visit aims at the activation of economic accords between the two states and the implementation of some infrastructure projects that would help in reconstructing Iraq, in addition to mutual cooperation in cultural and scientific fields.
"We have dedicated special funds to carry out infrastructure projects in Iraq ... and we aim at activating these projects during the visit," Ahmadinejad said.
Carrying out efficient electricity projects to link the electric mechanism between the two countries is also planned, he explained, adding that there is growing economic cooperation between Iran and Iraq.
Ahmadinejad's visit to Iraq is the first by an Iranian president in decades.