Daesh elimination boosts Iraq unity, solidarity: Iran

A senior Iranian official says the eradication of Daesh terrorist group in Iraq will play an important role in augmenting the country’s solidarity and unity.

In a meeting with Deputy Secretary General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) of Iraq, Barham Salih, in Tehran on Tuesday, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani stressed the importance of reinforcing unity and solidarity among different Iraqi groups within the framework of a united Iraq.

“The eradication of Daesh in Iraq will be an influential factor in establishing solidarity and strengthening national identity there and this is the reason that some foreign sides and regional countries are perpetuating Daesh-spawning grounds and ideologies and are not interested in the settlement of this issue,” Shamkhani said.

He added that unity among different Iraqi groups would be the most important priority to solve the existing security crisis in the country and defeat terrorist elements.

“Iraq’s strategic interests will be fulfilled and its regional power established by reinforcing a united and integrated Iraq,” Shamkhani said.

The SNSC secretary pointed to the existing security crisis in Iraq as a result of moves by terrorist Takfiri groups and expressed regret that the presence of Daesh terrorists in the country inflicted the most damage on Sunni Muslims.

He emphasized that dialogue and understanding are the only ways to find a solution to possible problems and differences.

The senior Iranian official expressed the country’s readiness to improve political and economic relations with Iraq's Kurdistan region, saying, “Increasing integrity and friendship among Kurdish groups to have an active participation in the political and economic structure of a united Iraq is an unshakable policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

The PUK official, for his part, praised Iran’s unwavering support for Iraq in its fight against terrorism and said Iraq's Kurdistan region attaches special importance to the expansion of ties with Tehran.

Salih stressed the importance of remaining vigilant in dealing with enemies’ moves and Takfiri ideologies in order to prevent the presence and spread of terrorism.

Iraq has been engaged in the fight against the Takfiri Daesh terrorists since the summer of 2014, when the militants took control of the major northern city of Mosul and some other areas in the country.

The militants have been committing heinous crimes against all ethnic and religious communities in Iraq, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, and Christians. Iraqi army soldiers and fighters from allied Popular Mobilization Units are seeking to win back militant-held regions in joint operations.

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