Iran Hails Elections in Iraq
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran welcomes Iraq’s move to hold successful parliamentary elections and regards it as an indicator of democracy, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said.
“What happened in Iraq yesterday is the continuation of the process of democracy in that country. We welcome the successful holding of the elections in Iraq,” Khatibzadeh said at a press conference on Monday.
He said the parliamentary polls in Iraq were held at the proper time, adding that Iraq is “on the correct path to democracy”.
The Iraqi election commission announced that some 41 percent of eligible voters have cast their ballots in Sunday’s elections.
Elsewhere in his comments, the Iranian spokesman said Tehran has repeatedly warned the “friends in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region” against the existence of bases of anti-Iranian groups in that country, which he said runs counter to the rules of good neighborliness.
“Those bases must be removed. The (Kurdistan) Region and the Baghdad government are aware of this issue. Those bases cannot keep working. We will act according to our interests wherever necessary,” he underlined.
On September 9, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Ground Force launched drone and artillery attacks against the strongholds of terrorists harbored in the northern parts of Iraq.
The IRGC employed combat and suicide drones in the operation, as its smart artillery units with pinpoint accuracy targeted the positions of the terrorist groups with high precision, a statement said.
Later on September 19, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri warned that the military strikes against terrorist groups in northern Iraq will remain in place and may even expand.