Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham on Tuesday hailed liberation of Tikrit as a courageous victory gained by the Iraqi army, volunteers and tribal forces.
She also praised the solidarity shown by the Iraqi military and volunteers, either Sunni or Shiite Muslims, in the decisive battle to retake Tikrit.
“The recent victories are considered as a milestone in the process of the fight on terrorism in the country (Iraq) and herald the cleansing of other Iraqi regions (from terrorists) in the near future,” Afkham noted.
She also reaffirmed Iran’s “effective and unconditional” support for the Iraqi nation and government in the fight against terrorism.
On Tuesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced that units of government forces, backed by Shiite and Sunni volunteer forces, had managed to retake control of Tikrit.
Abadi said Iraqi forces had raised the country’s national flag over the Salahuddin provincial government headquarters.