Iranian FM : ‘No Iranian troops in Iraq’

TEHRAN, Aug. 25 (MNA) – Iran's FM who is in Iraq has asserted that Iran has not deployed any troops in Iraq. During a joint press conference with Iraqi FM Zebari, Zarif reaffirmed that "Iraqis can defend themselves, thus Iran’s military help is not needed." “ISIS has revealed its true face to the world and all the regional countries must take action against it,” added Zarif. He stated: “We have proudly witnessed the resistance of Iraqi people guided by religious leaders confronting these dangerous, anti-Islamic movements and will continue to stand next to all Iraqi people until the very end.” Zarif hailed outgoing PM Nouri al-Maliki’s contributions to Iraq and said: “Iraq’s tactful policies and specially Maliki’s wise and courageous decisions, to which Iraqi people and the region are indebted, opened a new door to the nation and the region. the result has been that now, all can stand against terrorism together.” Zarif continued: “Iran considers Iraq’s territorial integrity, national unity, development and security as a priority in ts foreign policies.” “Iran and Iraq has deep historical, religious and cultural ties and these ties are to the interest of all regional countries,” said he and that “we hope to see peace and stability in Iraq.” He added: “what we expect from our Iraqi friends is to treat Persian merchants living in Iraq properly; an expectation which has been so far well understood and observed by them." Zarif reiterated that Iran will support Iraqis’ decision and added that “we respect Iraqis’ decision. We have never interfered in Iraq’s affairs and will never do so. We will support al-Ebadi the same way we had supported Nouri Maliki.”