Tehran, July 5, IRNA � Expediency Council Chairman Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has said that documents recently leaked by WikiLeaks on Saudi Arabia will cost Riyadh dearly.

In an interview with Arabic-language daily `Al-Vefaq�, Ayatollah Rafsanjani said, �This is harmful (for Saudi Arabia).� It will cost Saudi Arabia dearly and its consequences will not go away so easily.�

On Iran�s support for Iraq, Ayatollah Rafsanjani said Iran considers Iraq an important neighbor. �Firstly, it is really an important county, both geographically and naturally; (it�s important) for its people, who have been a source of civilization for years. The Code of Hammurabi was originated from the country and Iraqis are nice people.�

He said Iraq will become so powerful if superficial, religious, ethnic and other differences are set aside and national unity and territorial integrity are restored.

He added that since the Iraq-Iran war (1980-88) many Iraqis have been residing and working in Iran like Iranians. He noted that Iran�s assistance to Iraq is serious and boundless.

�Our relations with the Iraqi government have always been good,� he added.

�We do not have an eye on Iraq and do not feel any danger from Iraqi side. We consider defense of Iraq and its security our own,� he pointed out.

Asked about Saudi and Israeli concerns over a deal between Iran and G5+1, Ayatollah Rafsanjani said there are no reasons for Saudi Arabia and other regional states to fear Iran. �We have banned the nuclear bomb. Why they should fear us. They should fear Israel. Saudi Arabia does know that Iran is not a threat.�

�If we wanted to cut diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia we would have done it when 400-500 Iranians pilgrims were martyred in Mecca catastrophe. We would not forget this easily however, we acted otherwise just to keep bilateral ties normal.�

To a question on Iran-Egypt relations, Ayatollah Rafsanjani said Iran does not have any problem with the people of Egypt.

Elsewhere in the interview, Ayatollah Rafsanjani praised personality of the Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and said he believed at the time being, nobody can be a substitute for the Supreme Leader. �His Eminence is now the main pivot for survival of the revolution and security of the country. He is the center point of country�s management and we should help him.�

By IRNA