Iranian Envoy, Iraqi PM Discuss Ways to Counter Terrorism
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran's Ambassador to Baghdad Hassan Danaeifar and Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi held talks on the latest developments in the region and ways to counter the threat of terrorism.
In a meeting in Baghdad on Saturday, Danaeifar and Abadi exchanged views over the threats posed to the region by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorist group, Al-Masalah news website quoted a statement by the Iraqi prime minister office as saying.
According to the statement, the two sides also discussed bilateral relations between Tehran and Baghdad and the upcoming trip of an Iranian vice-president to the Arab country.
During the meeting, Abadi said that the Iraqi government is willing to establish “constructive ties” with all countries, especially regional and neighboring countries, based on mutual respect and interests.
Iraq has been facing the growing threat of terrorism, mainly posed by the ISIL terrorist group.
The ISIL militants made swift advances in much of northern and western Iraq over the summer, after capturing large swaths of northern Syria.
However, a combination of concentrated attacks by the Iraqi military and the volunteer forces, who rushed to take arms after top Iraqi cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani issued a fatwa calling for fight against the militants, have blunted the edge of the ISIL offensive.
Amid tensions in Iraq, Iran is known as the first country to help the Arab country and has always voiced support for Iraq’s solidarity and prosperity.