Barzani hails Iran’s support for Iraqi Kurds in fighting ISIL

Speaking in a joint press conference with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday, Barzani added that Iran was the first country that supplied the Kurdish forces with arms and helped them fight ISIL terrorists.

He emphasized that Iraqi Kurds would never forget Tehran’s support that came at a crucial timing without any expectation for reciprocation.

Barzani also underlined the need to continue fighting ISIL terrorists and said the final defeat of these Takfiri militants is only possible through a joint effort on the part of all regional countries.

The Iranian foreign minister, for his part, said fighting the ISIL Takfiri militants is a comprehensive campaign that must be pushed ahead until a crushing defeat is inflicted on the terrorists.

“The ISIL is not an enemy only to Kurds, Arabs and Shia [Muslims] but is the enemy of all of us in the region,” Zarif said.

The Iranian foreign minister described ISIL as an “international threat” and added, “We call for unity and the establishment of security and stability in Iraq because we regard this country’s security as our own security.”

He threw Iran’s weight behind any agreement between Kurdistan Regional Government and Baghdad’s central government, hoping that formation of a “broad-based government” would settle all problems in Iraq.

Zarif, however, made it clear that Tehran has not sent any troops into Iraq, saying Iran believes that Iraq has no need to military aid.

The Iranian foreign minister arrived in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region on Tuesday for the second leg of his two-day visit to the Arab country.

The visit came as Iraq has faced turmoil caused by the ISIL in the north and west since early June. The crisis deteriorated in recent weeks, as the militants swept over new towns in the north, forcing members of the minorities out of their homes.

The ISIL terrorists have threatened all communities, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians, Izadi Kurds and others, as they continue their atrocities in Iraq.