Iran slams U.S. 'propaganda' effort

TEHRAN, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. officials must end the practice of pointing to Iranian interference every time the Washington strategy for Iraq falters, Iranian officials said Tuesday.

Hassan Kazemi Qomi, the Iranian envoy to Iraq, lashed out at reports from top U.S. commanders that Tehran was interfering in negotiations between Washington and Baghdad over the long-term security arrangement set to replace the expiring U.N. mandate for Iraq, the Islamic Republic News Agency said.

"Whenever (Washington) faces a new challenge or deadlock in carrying out its plans in Iraq, like what is happening now in case of the deadlock over the security agreement with the Iraqi officials, it resorts to its failed policy of scapegoating others," he said.

The envoy pointed to an Oct. 2 report in The Washington Post that said the Defense Department had paid private contractors in Iraq $300 million to put out news stories in the media to "engage and inspire" the Iraqi population as nothing more than a smear tactic against the Islamic Republic.

His statements come as Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, met with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to review a final draft of the security arrangement as skepticism mounts over the deal.