Iran Sides with Iraq against Terrorism

“The Islamic Republic of Iran regards security in Iraq as its own security as well as regional security and strongly supports the Iraqi government's progress and its campaign against terrorism,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for African and Middle Eastern Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian said on Friday.

He also hailed the efforts of Iraq’s outgoing Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to restore unity to the war-stricken country.

The Iranian diplomat said that over the past eight years, Maliki made every effort to establish “a united, secure, developed and free Iraq” and he is now an asset in “new Iraq.”

Maliki stepped down on Thursday to make way for Haider al-Abadi, Iraq’s new prime minister designate, saying that his decision to give up the position to Abadi shows his desire to “safeguard the high interests of the country.”

Iraq has been witnessing a new wave of violence fueled by Takfiri terrorists. The so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant militants have been operating in the Iraqi provinces of Nineveh, Diyala, Salahuddin and al-Anbar.

In July, the ISIL captured Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, as they looted Christian homes, desecrated cemeteries, destroyed tombs of biblical prophets, ruined churches, and pulled down crosses.