The chairman of the Expediency Council said some countries’ policy to back the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group is an “imprudent political decision” which indicates “lack of foresight.”
In a meeting with President of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq Ammar al-Hakim in Tehran on Monday, Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said, “Prominent Shiite and Sunni figures should be vigilant and should not allow the enemies of Islam to drag Muslims into internal wars,” IRNA reported.
The statesman said, “True Shiites should learn to observe the Islamic code of conduct and respect human beings through following the teachings of our Imams (AS) and should not show disrespect for the beliefs of followers of other faiths in various religious festivals.”
Ayatollah Rafsanjani stressed the necessity for unity among Muslims, particularly in Iraq, and said, “Discord contributes to the reinforcement of (terrorist) groups, such as the IS, Boko Haram and al-Nusra Front.”
He underlined the importance of cooperation between Iran and Iraq in various areas and said, “Tehran and Baghdad enjoy great potential for cooperation with the world, thanks to their rich resources and geographical position.”
Shiite-Sunni Unity Enrages Enemies
Hakim, for his part, briefed Rafsanjani on the political and security conditions in Iraq and efforts to promote convergence among Shiites and Sunnis in the country and said, “This unity has incensed the enemies to the point that they have resorted to cruel and terrorist actions.”
“The rise of (terrorist) groups, such as the IS, is part of their latest efforts.”
Elsewhere, the Iraqi cleric described the cooperation between the Kurds and Shiites as crucial to ensuring security in the country and said, “Our major objective is to preserve the territorial integrity of Iraq, for which we are fighting against Ba’athist and IS terrorists.”
