29-03-2024 01:04 PM Jerusalem Timing

Abdollahian Denies Iranian Military Presence in Iraq

Abdollahian Denies Iranian Military Presence in Iraq

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian denied recent media claims that Tehran had sent troops to Iraq to help fight the so-called ’Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’ (ISIL) takfiri group.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian denied recent media claims that Tehran had sent troops to Iraq to help fight the so-called 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' (ISIL) takfiri group, state-run IRNA news agency reported.

"We have not sent any armed troops or fighters to Iraq,” Amir-Abdollahian said at a press conference at the Rossiya Segodnya press center in Moscow Monday.

According to the deputy foreign minister, Iran has only deployed military advisers in the country after receiving a request from the Iraqi government.

In related news, Amir-Abdollahian said the Islamic Republic supports neighboring Iraq with all of its might in the fight against terrorism.

He made the comments in a meeting with visiting Secretary General of Iraqi Kurdistan Social Democratic Party Mohammad Haji Mahmoud on Sunday during which they discussed developments in Iraq and region.

'The Islamic Republic of Iran regards a sovereign, unified and strong Iraq a guarantee for all ethnicities and tribes of the country and in line with the region's interests,' he said.

Haji Mahmoud, for his part, hailed Iran's all-out assistance to Iraq to counter terrorism and said the popular mobilization helped in the victory against terrorist groups.

The Kurdish veteran political leader expressed his concern over continued foreign support to ISIL and said certain foreign parties have enabled the existence of ISIL terrorist group.