A Talk with Iraq's Prime Minister

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TIME In Najaf and Sadr City, is the counteroffensive mainly an American show?

That's not true. We have in the U.N. Security Council resolution procedures for creating liaison and coordination between the various Iraqi authorities and the multinational force, starting from the Cabinet down to the provinces. And the role of the multinational force in Najaf--it's outside Najaf, it's not inside the city. There are Iraqi troops there, police. Let me put the record right. I spoke [Aug. 10] to the commander of the multinational troops, General [George] Casey, and he has no intention whatsoever of sending American troops into the Imam Ali shrine.

TIME But have you given authorization if he does choose to go in?

No, no, there is no need nor request. No multinational forces have requested to go to the Imam Ali shrine. I can assure you of this very clearly.

TIME Is this the final spasm of a dying movement, or do you think it will cause lasting trouble?

I don't think it will survive.

TIME There are reports that you have been invited to make an official trip to Tehran.

Well, I haven't received an invitation as yet. But definitely Iran would be on our agenda to visit. Iraq is very interested in creating a peaceful environment where dialogue is the order rather than conflict, where noninterference in the internal affairs of other countries is the standard.

TIME Yet we have heard that Iran has infiltrated Iraq, and your Defense Minister has said Iran is the No. 1 enemy of Iraq.

Let me start by saying there are American-Iranian relationships; we are not party to this. This is between the two countries, the governments of the U.S. and Iran, and I think dialogue is very important to solve problems. As far as we are concerned in Iraq, we have had tensions in the past with Iran because of Saddam's reign. And there are some infiltrations. But we don't believe this is an Iranian government--controlled infiltration. We don't have proof or evidence of that yet. What has been happening with the Syrians and many other people is that they are interfering with Iraq because of the lack of border forces and institutions.