Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said the Islamic Republic has always helped and will make more efforts to help boost rapport among different Iraqi groups. “A united and advanced Iraq is important for Iran,” Larijani said in a meeting with Iraqi President Fuad Masum in Baghdad on Monday on the sidelines of the 11th session of Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Press TV reported.
“Despite growing insecurity in the region, Iraq has managed to improve its national security and is taking steps in this regard,” he added.
The Majlis speaker hoped for the resolution of all of Iraq’s security issues as soon as possible.
Masum slammed certain countries for supporting the spread of terrorism in Iraq and said the self-styled Islamic State terrorist group does not confine its ambitions to Iraq and Syria, and seeks to establish a global state. The Iraqi president emphasized that his country requires international support for its campaign against IS terrorists, but does not need foreign ground forces.
He hailed Iran’s perennial role in the fight against terrorism in Iraq and across the region. Masum said Iraqi forces are fully prepared to stand up against IS terrorists and defeat them.
Gruesome violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since IS launched an offensive in June 2014 and took control of parts of Iraqi territory. The militants have been committing vicious crimes against all ethnic and religious communities in Iraq, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds and Christians.
The Iraqi Army and fighters from Popular Mobilization Units are engaged in joint military operations to win back militant-held regions.
Larijani arrived in Baghdad at the head of a delegation on Saturday to participate in the 11th session of PUIC.
