Veep: Iran Ready To Help Iraqi Govˈt

Tehran, June 18, IRNA – First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri said on Tuesday that Iran is ready to help the Iraqi government. ˈIf government of the country says it needs help we will help them but so far we have not dispatched any military force to Iraq,ˈ said Jahangiri on Tuesday on the sidelines of the G77 summit in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. He said, ˈWe believe violence and terrorist groups should be wiped off the map.ˈ Noting that Iraq is an important country in the region, Jahangiri said, ˈWe have good relations with the Iraqi government and believe that stability in Iraq should be taken into consideration. After establishment of new government in Iraq, efforts have been made to weaken the government but of no avail.ˈ He said Iraqˈs recent elections were the first held after full withdrawal of foreign forces. Besides Iraq lies near Syria which has been gripped with crisis for several years and where many extremist groups from many countries were present, said Jahangiri, adding that terrorist groups, organized in Syria, used the opportunity and made many Iraqi cities insecure. Jahangiri said, ˈWe are confident that the government and people of Iraq, backed by clerics, are seriously determined to confront terrorists and are capable of driving Daesh group out of their country.ˈ Asked on certain media claims that Iran has sent military troops to Iraq, Jahangiri re-emphasized, ˈUp to now, we have not sent any military troop there.ˈ Asked whether terrorist groups rushed to Iraq in the wake of their failure in Syria, Jahangiri said, ˈOf course, they have suffered heavy defeat in Syria but Daesh since the beginning intended to make Iraq insecure.ˈ/end