Larijani: Iran Aiding Iraq’s Fight against Terrorism with Full Respect for Baghdad’s Sovereignty

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani underlined the country’s continued support and consultations to Iraq in fighting the terrorist groups, while having and showing full respect for Baghdad’s sovereignty.
“We are assisting Iraq because it is our friend and neighbor and has been held captive by a terrorist group today; of course the Iraqi people are brave and the advances that they have made in fighting the terrorists have been the result of their own efforts and our support,” Larijani said in a press conference in Tehran on Monday.

Stressing Iran’s continued assistance to the neighboring states, he said, “Iran doesn’t have hegemonic plans or intentions for any country and has shown this approach ever since the Revolution as fight against hegemony is a pillar of the Islamic Revolution.”

On the very same basis, Larijani added, Iran has been helping the Palestinians in their fight against the Zionist regime upon their demand, aiding them with defending their country and standing against their enemies.

In relevant remarks today, Supreme Leader’s top adviser for international affairs Ali Akbar Velayati also underlined Iran’s recognition of and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all nations as well as its steadfast opposition to intervention in other country’s internal affairs.

Velayati made the remarks in a statement on Monday.

He underlined the Islamic Republic of Iran’s respect for the territorial integrity of all countries as well as Tehran’s principled policy and continued move for strengthening unity and campaign against extremism and terrorism.

“Foreign policy in the Islamic Revolution’s view is not ethnical and tribal, and is not meant to promote nationalistic thoughts, and geography; territorial borders don’t have any room in the Islamic Revolution’s thought,” Velayati said.

Stressing that the Islamic Revolution doesn’t prefer any race and tribe to others, he said, “The Islamic Revolution recognizes the entire Muslim world as a body named the Islamic Ummah.”

Velayati underscored that the Islamic Revolution is opposed to interference in other countries’ domestic affairs and recognizes the territorial integrity of all states, specially the brotherly and friendly ones.

The remarks by the Iranian officials are seen as a response to the recent statements made by the Israeli premier at the US Congress, who claimed that Iran has now gobbled up four regional states.