UN Should Effectively Support Iraq against Terrorism: Iran’s FM

In a telephone conversation with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday, Zarif warned about the transnational nature of Takfiri (extremist) terrorism and underlined the UN’s responsibility to effectively and seriously support the people and government of Iraq against terrorism.

To discuss the recent developments in Iraq, the top Iranian diplomat also made telephone conversations with several other international political figures, including Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Iyad Madani, and the foreign ministers of Turkey, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Zarif in these conversations called for joint and coordinated action against terrorism and support for Iraq in the face of growing terrorist attacks.

This comes as Iraqi forces are continuing their battle against Takfiri terrorists. The foreign-backed militants have been advancing in Iraq in recent days, taking control of parts of the Arab country.

On June 10, Iraq’s northern Nineveh Province fell into the hands of militants from the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The Takfiri attacks have reportedly forced more than half a million people in and around Mosul, the capital of Nineveh Province, to flee their homes.

While militants managed to take control of two areas in Diyala Province on Thursday, Iraqi forces also regained control of the central city of Tikrit. Takfiri militants have vowed to march toward the capital, Baghdad.

Takfiri groups are reportedly entering Iraq from neighboring Syria and Saudi Arabia to undermine security in the country.