Still, we did talk to the Iranians and we said if we find any evidence that they’re bringing weapons over Iraqi airspace, we’ll ban their use of our airspace. The Iranians said that this information simply wasn’t true. They told us that the al-Assad regime [in Syria] needs economic support more than it needs guns.
NIQASH: While we’re talking about Iraqi airspace, could you tell us what you know about unmanned US surveillance drones using the Iraqi sky to spy on Iran?
Al-Amiri: This is true. The US has sent a number of unmanned planes to monitor activities in Iran. But the Iranians shot one of these down.
NIQASH: Is this still going on: US drones moving over Iraq?
Al-Amiri: They may well be passing through Iraqi airspace. We just don’t have any equipment that’s sophisticated enough to detect them. We’ve told the US we won’t allow this. And it seems that Iran has the capacity to bring these planes down.
NIQASH: OK, let’s move on. You’re also the current Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s Minister of Transport. A few days ago you went to Kuwait to discuss various problems relevant to your neighbours. One of those issues involved Iraqi Airways – the Kuwaitis have been demanding compensation worth billions ever since Saddam Hussein invaded that nation in the 1990s and destroyed or seized most of Kuwait Airlines’ assets.
Al-Amiri: Kuwait filed a lawsuit against Iraqi airways in Britain and the eventual verdict banned Iraqi Airways planes from travelling to Europe, or from purchasing planes. During this recent visit though, we made significant progress toward resolving this.
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