Rouhani, Maliki Underline Fight against Terrorism

During the telephone conversation on Thursday, Rouhani and Al-Maliki called for effective measures to eradicate terrorism in Iraq in the wake of terrorist attacks by the militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Arab country.

President Rouhani pointed to the necessity for fighting terrorism and violence, and said, “We condemn the recent crimes by terrorists against the innocent people of Iraq.”

The Iranian president reiterated that the Iranian nation and government always support the Iraqi nation and government, and said, “The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran will do its utmost in international and regional areas to confront terrorism and it will not allow the supporters of terrorists to disrupt security and stability of Iraq by exporting terrorism to Iraq.”

The Iraqi prime minister, for his part, thanked Iran for its supports from Iraqi nation in international and regional scenes, and briefed President Rouhani on the latest developments in northern Iraq and the success of the Iraqi government in suppressing the terrorists.

Just days ago, the Takfiri militants gained control of parts of the country’s Northern and North-central areas, including the city of Mosul. On June 10, the militants took control of Nineveh Province, forcing “over 500,000 people in and around” its capital Mosul to flee, according to Geneva-based International Organization for Migration.

Reports also indicated that, on June 11, the militants seized the city of Tikrit; shortly afterwards, however, Iraqi forces managed to recapture the central city, located roughly half way between Baghdad and Mosul.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on the international community to support the Iraqi government in its fight against the militants.

Takfiri groups are reportedly entering Iraq from neighboring Syria and Saudi Arabia to undermine security in the country.

Maliki has vowed to continue fighting the militants.