Iraq regrets Iran absence at Paris conference on ISIL

“We insisted that Iran be present. However, it’s not us that took the decision. We regret the absence of Iran at this conference,” Ibrahim al-Jaafari told reporters on Monday.

“All countries are affected by the ISIL problem and Iran is a neighboring country that has several times given us its support,” he added.

France is hosting a conference, dubbed the International Conference on Peace and Security in Iraq, to discuss ways of tackling the ISIL terrorists in Iraq and Syria amid US efforts to form a so-called international coalition to battle the Takfiri group.

Despite the international community’s emphasis on the importance of Iran’s role in the regional developments, Tehran has not been invited to the meeting in Paris mainly due to the US opposition.

The US has also announced that Iran will not be a part of its so-called coalition against the ISIL.

Iran has cast doubt over the sincerity of the coalition and reiterated that it has no interest in attending the Paris meeting.

The Iraqi foreign minister said the participants at the Paris conference have not elaborated on any specific plan about their future roles in the US-led coalition.

“We didn’t go into details this morning. The different parties all had positive reactions concerning the current situation and the support they will give to Iraq,” he said.

Jaafari underlined the importance of “liberation” of the northern city of Mosul as a “strategic objective” and expressed optimism that it will take place in the “medium term.”

The Takfiri ISIL terrorists currently control parts of eastern Syria and Iraq’s northern and western regions. They have committed heinous crimes and threatened all communities, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians and Izadi Kurds, during their advances.

The West and its regional allies, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, are giving financial and military support to the militants.