Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad Bolani said Thursday that the security pact being negotiated with the United States was a "purely national issue" and that Baghdad rejected any external interference in its contents.
"The security agreement with the United States is a purely national issue and thus we cannot accept any meddling that injures Iraq's interests," Bolani told reporters before the opening of a meeting that groups Interior Ministers of Iraq and eight neighbouring countries, reported dpa.
"The security agreement is subject only to the vision of the Iraqi government," he added.
The Iraqi minister was responding to reporters' remarks that questioned the absence of the security pact with the United States from the agenda of the conference, which is scheduled to discuss mainly security issues including cooperation in fighting terrorism.
Alluding to Iran, Bolani said that the region currently witnessed "an ideological conflict that seeks to impose a certain viewpoint".
Iran, which is taking part in the meeting, has expressed opposition to the draft agreement between Baghdad and Washington.