TEHRAN, Jan. 3 (MNA) – Iran fully expects Iraq to shut all Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) bases in Iraq and to hand over the leaders of the terrorist group to Iran, military expert Hossein Alaie stated on Saturday.

Alaie’s remarks come shortly after Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maleki said on Thursday, “We will treat them based on the international laws. We will not force them to go back (to Iran) but we will give them the opportunity to either go home, or to another country.”
MKO was an accomplice to Iraq’s former dictator Saddam Hussein’s crimes against Iran. It also committed many crimes against Iraqi Kurds and Shias.
Speaking to reporters on the sideline of a ceremony during which the United States handed over to Iraqi forces security control of the Green Zone, Maliki said, ""Based on taking over everything and in accordance with our constitution and our policies of opening up to our neighbors... our forces are going to take full control of the camp where the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) live.""
-----------Security and economy
Alaie also told the Mehr News Agency that “security and economy” form the cornerstone of ties between Iran and Iraq.
“Security and economy are the two important dimensions of Iran-Iraq relations.”
“And Iran-Iraq’s shared interests are so great that one can say the two countries need each other,” he explained.
Alaaie, a former top IRGC commander, said in order to strengthen his government Maliki has to create a delicate balance between Baghdad’s relations with Tehran and Arab countries.
He added that the two neighbors have made satisfactory progress in deepening their relations.
However, he insisted there are a few issues such as the MKO issue, the illegal detention of Iranian diplomats by U.S forces in Iraq, and security challenges for Iranian pilgrims visiting Iraq which should be resolved.
Alaie also said it is expected that the Iraqi government which has taken control of U.S. troops in Iraq to immediately release the Iranian diplomats held under the U.S. custody.
U.S. forces broke into the Iranian consulate in Iraq’s Kurdish city of Arbil on Jan. 11, 2007, detaining three Iranian diplomats.
SL/PA END MN