Iran urges Goff to support deal to rebuild Iraq

Iran has proposed that New Zealand join it in a "trilateral" deal to assist with the reconstruction of war-torn Iraq.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Mohsen Aminzadeh floated the proposal while in Wellington this week for the first meeting of the Joint Commission for Political and Economic Co-operation between the two countries.

The idea stems from Iraq's Ambassador to Tehran, Muhammaed Majid al-Sheikh, who last month invited Iran to participate in his shattered country's reconstruction, putting behind him years of hostile relationship under Saddam Hussein's rule.

Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff said he was "open-minded"about the proposal, but added that he would want to see detailed plans.

Mr Aminzadeh - who is responsible for Asia-Pacific Affairs - told the Herald: "We are ready to cooperate with New Zealand who is interested in the reconstruction of Iraq."

Mr Aminzadeh suggested an agreement with New Zealand could be based on the tripartite memorandum of understanding that Iran, Japan and Afghanistan signed last year on training the manpower required for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. "I believe this experience can be repeated in Iraq and we are ready to cooperate in this field."

But Mr Goff cautioned "no details" were discussed during the formal talks. "He said he was exploring ways to enhance the co-operation between Iran and New Zealand in their region knowing we were active in Afghanistan and having a joint desire that Afghanistan and Iraq be peaceful, stable and prosperous countries with some distance to go. Obviously if they were to come up with a proposal that we thought was constructive in achieving the objectives that we have - which is a peaceful, stable and democratic Iraq - then we would look at how we might cooperate ... but we would have to see that it fitted into our wider development assistance strategy."

Mr Goff played down any concerns the US would take a dim view of a joint New Zealand-Iranian initiative. "I don't think there are huge risks in a positive relationship with Iran that points Iran in a way that the US and Europe and others would want it to go."

New Zealand is a donor nation for both Iraq and Afghanistan, where a provincial reconstruction team is based. But last year New Zealand withdrew engineering troops from the Iraqi city of Basra.

In a speech to the NZ Institute of International Affairs on Iran's foreign policy, Mr Aminzadeh said his country was "voicing its support" for the future government elected by the Iraqi people, and spares no effort for co-operation with that government for the reconstruction of Iraq.

"We believe reconstruction is one of the areas that we can witness trilateral co-operation between Iran, New Zealand and Iraq."

Tehran-based reports sourced to the head of Iran's Chamber of Commerce suggest that Britain, Russia, Poland, Japan and Germany have all indicated interest in going into partnership with Iran over reconstruction programmes in Iraq.

The Iranian politician also met representatives from Fonterra, Invetech and ANZ, which have trading and investment links with Iran.