Expediency Council Chief Meets Iraqi Premier

Expediency Council Chairman Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi sat down for talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi. In the meeting held in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Sunday, Ayatollah Shahroudi congratulated Abadi on the liberation of the northern cities of Tal Afar and Mosul from the self-styled Islamic State terrorist group. “Back-to-back victories of Iraq made possible by the unity of the nation have amazed the world and ended the chance for its enemies [to cause damage],” IRNA quoted Shahroudi as saying. Abadi announced last Thursday the operation to purge Tal Afar of the terrorist group has been completed successfully. The operation started on August 20, one month after Iraqi forces, including its Popular Mobilization Units, recaptured the country’s second biggest city, Mosul. Ayatollah Shahroudi stressed the Islamic Republic will continue to support the Iraqi government in its drive to root out terrorism, unite the nation and perform reconstruction of the country. Abadi said he is grateful to Iran for lending a helping hand to Iraq in hard times. The Iraqi premier vowed his government will “wholeheartedly” carry on the battle to root out terrorism from Iraq.