Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has reiterated the Islamic Republic’s support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of conflict-stricken Iraq.
“Safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Iraq is of high importance to the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Rouhani said in a telephone conversation with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Masum on Wednesday.
Stating that Iran will always stand by the Iraqi government and nation, Rouhani said that “we regard Iraq’s stability and security as our own security and stability.”
“It is not acceptable for us [to see] any country or power want to interfere in Iraq's internal affairs or seize and occupy part of the land of [our] brotherly and friendly country of Iraq,” Rouhani said.
Violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since Daesh terrorists launched an offensive in June 2014, and took control of parts of the Iraqi territory.
The Iranian chief executive further called for the continuation of Tehran-Baghdad consultations and cooperation on bilateral and key regional issues.
Rouhani also pointed to the implementation of the nuclear agreement, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran and P5+1 reached in July, saying that the nuclear deal proved that “developing countries can defend their inalienable rights" through “dialog and negotiation.”
The Iraqi president, for his part, congratulated Iran on the beginning of the implementation of the JCPOA, expressing confidence that the nuclear deal will further contribute to peace and stability in the region.
On January 16, Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China – plus Germany started to implement the JCPOA.
After JCPOA went into effect, all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union, the United Nations Security Council and the United States were lifted. Iran in return has put some limitations on its nuclear activities.