Iran’s first VP urges global fight against ISIL terrorists

Iranian First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri says Iraq and Syria are at the forefront of the fight against terrorism, calling on all countries to beef up efforts to combat the ISIL Takfiri group.

“Mere military action is not enough to fight Daesh [ISIL] group and it is necessary that all countries cooperate in the fight against this phenomenon,” Jahangiri said in a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Baghdad on Monday.

He added that those who once threw their support behind the ISIL militants have now fallen prey to the terrorist group themselves.

“Maintaining the Iraqi nation’s unity and protecting the country’s territorial integrity are among the core policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Jahangiri added.

The ISIL Takfiri militant group, which has been wreaking havoc in the region through its acts of terror, currently controls parts of Iraq and neighboring Syria.

Iraqi soldiers, police units, Kurdish forces, Shia volunteers and Sunni tribesmen have succeeded in driving the ISIL militants out of some areas in Iraq.

Jahangiri further said Tehran and Baghdad enjoy “growing” economic ties and expressed hope that the two sides would implement agreements signed earlier in the day as soon as possible.

He added that Iranian firms are keen to play an active role in the reconstruction of war-torn Iraq.

The Iranian vice president pointed to the decline in oil prices in recent months and said, “Iran and Iraq are two important oil countries that have suffered from oil price reduction. We should cooperate with each other to prevent the continuation of this situation.”

He also expressed Iran’s readiness to export natural gas to Iraq.

Iraqi PM’s stance on ties with Iran

The Iraqi premier, for his part, said Tehran and Baghdad can strengthen cooperation in numerous sectors including oil and gas, housing and transportation.

Abadi expressed hope that obstacles in the way of implementing bilateral agreements would be removed and ground be prepared for the two sides to improve cooperation.

Iran-Iraq agreements

In the presence of Jahangiri and Abadi, Iranian and Iraqi officials on Monday signed 10 documents and memoranda of understanding for the expansion of cooperation in various sectors.

Iran and Iraq signed agreements to bolster cooperation in the fields of air and road transportation, tourism, geology and mines as well as finding a solution to the haze problem that has plagued the two neighbors.

They also agreed to hold the third session of the joint Iran-Iraq economic commission.

The two countries’ officials also signed documents to boost trade and animal husbandry cooperation and hold exhibitions.

The Iranian vice president and Iraqi premier also signed the joint statement of the two countries’ economic commission.