President Hassan Rouhani has denounced the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria for its savagery and described the US-led coalition against the terror group as “ridiculous.”
Rouhani made the remarks in an exclusive interview with NBC News’ Ann Curry on Wednesday.
Speaking from the presidential palace in Tehran ahead of his visit to the United Nations, Rouhani questioned US President Obama’s decision to go after IS with airstrikes. “Are Americans afraid of giving casualties on the ground in Iraq? Are they afraid of their soldiers being killed in the fight they claim is against terrorism?” Rouhani said.
“If they want to use planes and if they want to use unmanned planes so that nobody is injured from the Americans, is it really possible to fight terrorism without any hardship, without any sacrifice? Is it possible to reach a big goal without that? In all regional and international issues, the victorious one is the one who is ready to do sacrifice.
“Maybe it is necessary for airstrikes in some conditions and some circumstances,” he added. “However, air strikes should take place with the permission of the people of that country and the government of that country.”
IS Actions at Odds With Islam
Asked about the extremists’ beheading of American James Foley and Steven Sotloff and Briton David Haines, Rouhani said IS actions are at odds with Islamic tenets.
“They want to kill humanity,” he said. “And from the viewpoint of the Islamic tenets and culture, killing an innocent people equals the killing of the whole humanity. And therefore, the killing and beheading of innocent people in fact is a matter of shame for them and it’s the matter of concern and sorrow for all the human and all the mankind.”
But he also took issue with the US-led coalition, saying members include nations that helped IS with weapons and training. He declined to name the countries. He said Iran will give Iraq any support it requests for combating IS, but made a point of saying religious sites must be protected.
“When we say the red line we mean the red line,” Rouhani said. “It means we will not allow Baghdad to be occupied by the terrorists or the religious sites such as Karbala or Najaf be occupied by the terrorists.”
Nuclear Dispute Can Be Resolved
In Wednesday’s interview, Rouhani said he believes the nuclear talks can still lead to a resolution. “Maybe the time could be arguable, either today or tomorrow. However, we have no doubt that the only solution to the nuclear issue goes through negotiation,” he said. He also expressed optimism about Iran’s warming relations with the United States. “The close relationship between the two nations can resolve many problems. A closer contact and relationship would also be beneficial for the American state person, and they can open new ways for the American politicians. We have to look at future more than the past,” he said.
