Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said on Friday there is no "common ground" between Iran and the United States in the fight against terrorism.
Larijani made the remarks in a press conference before leaving Islamabad after a two-day visit.
In response to a question about reports of possible coordination between Iran and the United Sates in launching airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) targets, he said, "I have no idea about the source of the report and heard nothing about it. We have nothing in common with the US in the fight against terrorism. Of course, we have called into question the creation of such terrorist groups and the role of US intelligence sources in this relation."
The Majlis speaker went on to say that the IS terrorist group originally emerged from Syria and asked, "Who have financially sponsored them over the past four years?"
The US government has helped develop such militant groups and provided them with financial assistance, he stated.
"We warned the West then that your sponsorship will bring about a new terrorist group, which they did not take seriously."
The lawmaker said, "The coalition they created (to fight the IS) is more for propaganda than operational use. What have they done as an anti-IS coalition? Is it possible to defeat guerrilla forces with mere airstrikes? So they are after publicity."
On Iran-Pakistan relations, Larijani said Tehran and Islamabad have many things in common and enjoy great opportunities for cooperation.
Referring to his meetings with Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and Senate Chairman Nayyar Bokhari, he said Iran and Pakistan, as two key regional states, have obligations to perform and they can take effective steps to promote unity among Muslims. He touched on the IS terrorist group and said, "You know Iran's stance vis-à-vis the IS. These terrorist groups under any title will do nothing but to destroy the (image of) Muslims."
The senior official said it seems that takfiri groups are made to sow discord among Muslim nations, adding, "We oppose these takfiri and extremist groups and consider them detrimental to the interests of Muslims. Friction (among Muslims) will be to the benefit of the US and the Zionist regime."
A takfiri is a Muslim who considers other Muslims to be unbelievers. On the activities of criminals across the joint border with Pakistan, he said the criminals' actions cannot damage the friendly relations between the two states, adding that the two governments should take responsibility to prevent the cordial relations from being disrupted. Regarding the latest developments in the region and the possibility of a rapprochement between Iran and the US, Larijani commented, "We take into consideration any good behavior. (But,) we have observed no shift in the US position on the region."
