President Reiterates Iran’s Full Support for Stability in Iraq
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani reiterated Tehran’s unwavering support for Baghdad, saying that the Islamic Republic has always made every effort to help Iraqis restore security and stability to their country.
Speaking in a Sunday meeting in Tehran with Iraq’s new ambassador to Iran, Rajeh Saber Abboud al-Mousavi, President Rouhani highlighted the importance of relations between the two neighboring countries and said that stability in the Arab country is the same as stability in the Islamic Republic.
He hoped that Iraq would witness the establishment of full stability and security, adding that to that end, Iran has always utilized “all its power and capacities”.
The Iranian President further touched upon the two countries’ great potentials to expand relations in diverse economic, cultural and political areas and said Tehran seeks to continue the growing trend of bilateral ties with Baghdad.
Mousavi, for his part, praised Iran’s supports for his country in the fight against terrorism and said the Iraqi people appreciate Iranians’ brotherhood and altruism especially in recent years.
During the meeting, the Iraqi diplomat also submitted his credentials to the Iranian president.
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 last 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 territorial integrity and prosperity.