TEHRAN - Hussein Kamalian, director of the Foreign Ministry Department for Iraq Affairs, has said that the United States is still seeking to stay in Iraq after nine years of occupation.

Kamalian said the White House is playing two tricks to continue its “physical” presence in Iraq: Having a large diplomatic staff and training Iraqi forces.

He went on to say that the United States has over 15000 personnel in its embassy in Baghdad, which is in contravention of the international rules.

It would be better if U.S. officials pay more attention to observing the international rules rather than insisting on their greed to increase staff in Iraq, Kamalian told the Mehr News Agency.

Commenting on the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, Kamalian said according to analysts the long stay in Iraq has brought nothing but enormous costs, casualties, and deep pessimism toward the occupiers. 

However, he added the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq is considered as an important episode in the history of Iraq.

The United States’ nine-year stay in Iraq not only led to death of many "innocent" Iraqis, it also paved the way for the emergence of terrorist groups, he stated.

Moreover, the United States’ long presence in Iraq seriously damaged Iraq's infrastructure, the diplomat stated. 

The Washington government should be asked about the achievements it has gained by invading Iraq in March 2003, Kamalian said. 

Elsewhere in his remarks, he said Iraq's government has realized that the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country is indebted to its people’s resistance against the occupiers.

He added U.S. failed to achieve its goals in the region; however, he said, that does not mean that Washington will abandon those goals.