FM: Iran Supporting National Unity, Security in Iraq

“Iran’s objective, as already declared, is national unity, territorial integrity, development and security of Iraq which as a necessity,” Zarif told reporters after he met religious authorities and ulemas (scholars) in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf.

The Iranian foreign minister noted that during his meetings with several Iraqi officials as well as the country’s religious authorities and ulemas he has laid emphasis on the need for preserving the national unity in Iraq.

“All efforts should lead to helping the Iraqi nation and government and God willing, it should result in the fight against terrorism in the country,” Zarif said.

Also, in a meeting with Head of the Iraqi National Alliance Ibrahim Jafari on Sunday, Zarif underlined the necessity for the establishment of political unity and practice of Islam’s ideology in Iraq to fight the terrorist groups.

“Terrorism in Iraq is threatening all the world people from all the different religions, sects and tribes,” Zarif said during the meeting, also participated by representatives of different Iraqi political groups.

“Fighting terrorism in Iraq is not limited to military confrontation, but we also need political unity, increasing security and Islamic thinking to confront perverted thoughts of the Daesh (the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant- ISIL),” he added.

Zarif arrived in the holy city of Najaf earlier today to exchange views with Ayatollah Seyed Ali Sisitani to discuss ways to soothe the ongoing crisis in the Muslim country.

The Iranian foreign minister plans to also meet with other grand Shiite clerics in Iraq, including Ayatollah al-Fayadh, Ayatollah Bashir Najafi and Ayatollah Hakim.

Zarif arrived in Baghdad on Sunday to meet the country’s new cabinet members to felicitate them on their appointment and start of work as the new Iraq government and discuss bilateral and regional developments as well as the latest security conditions in Iraq.

Several high-ranking Iranian officials congratulated Al-Abadi and the Iraqi nation on his appointment as the new premier last week and expressed their support for the new government.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei hailed the appointment of the new Iraqi premier, saying that enemies’ plot to push Iraq into further chaos through political disputes over premiership would be foiled once the new cabinet starts work.

Following Iran’s approach, Maliki also dropped his bid and voiced support for al-Abadi in a show of unity which is much needed in the crisis-hit country which has come under a surge of terrorist attacks by savage Takfiri terrorists of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the last few months.

Iran and Iraq have enjoyed growing ties ever since the overthrow of the former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, during the 2003 US invasion of the Muslim country.

Iraq’s Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari was in Tehran in February. During his stay in the Iranian capital, Zebari and Zarif discussed mutual cooperation on economy and trade as well as joint efforts to address environmental issues.