Tasnim News Agency has quoted Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Hassan Firouzabadi as saying, “Commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force Major General Ghasem Soleimani is in Iraq in an advisory capacity. He is a senior commander who is good at fighting. He knows how to mobilize and guide forces against terrorists.”
Major General Firouzabadi added, “The Iraqis are extremely wise and the reason why services of our military advisors were required in Iraq was a breakdown of the Iraqi military order for which the Americans are to blame.”
When asked whether Iran is planning to have military presence in neighboring countries in case of an escalation, the general said, “Definitely, we won’t have a military presence. It’s up to nations to stand up for their own rights, so it’s not acceptable to send armed forces to other countries under the pretext of defense or establishment of peace. That’s why we have expressed opposition to what the Americans are doing.”
The top general added, “Every individual is morally and religiously duty-bound to make sacrifices in defense of his homeland.”
On Palestine, he said, “Jews who have formed a government in occupied territories are usurpers and cannot stay there. Holding democratic elections to ensure people’s right to self-determination is the way to settle the dispute. After democratic elections, Israeli Zionists can decide whether they want to stay or leave; basically it’s not a complicated issue to make so much fuss about.”
On Iran’s stance in nuclear talks, Firouzabadi said, “Time and again, we have said that we are not in pursuit of nuclear weapons. Everyone knows well the world will depend on nuclear energy when oil reserves are finished. The world powers want to keep us dependent and impoverished.”
He concluded, “It’s to the benefit of the West to come to an agreement with Iran and abandon its adventurism and plots. The West should let Iran develop and defend its neighbors.”
