Iran urges joint efforts to fight terror

A senior Iranian official has expressed the Islamic Republic’s readiness to cooperate with Muslim countries, including Turkey and Saudi Arabia, to counter the growing threat of terrorism in the Middle East region.

“Iran welcomes any bilateral and regional cooperation with Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and other Muslim countries in the region in a genuine and effective battle against terrorism and extremism,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Friday.

The Iranian diplomat urged all countries to contribute to efforts to uproot terrorism and extremism and achieve sustainable security and all-out development in the region.

Voicing the Islamic Republic’s vigorous support for Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen in their struggles against terrorism, Amir-Abdollahian called on all influential regional governments to play a constructive part in the anti-terror fight under the current sensitive circumstances in the region.

The comments come as Takfiri ISIL militants made swift advances in much of northern and western Iraq over the summer, after capturing large swaths of northern Syria.

Lebanon has also been rocked by the spillover of the deadly conflict in Syria which started in 2011.

Iran has been providing support for the Iraqi and Syrian governments, including humanitarian aid and consultation, in their campaign against the Takfiri terrorists and was the first country to provide military assistance to Iraqi Kurdish forces fighting the ISIL.

The Islamic Republic has recently put forth a proposal on the unconditional military aid to Lebanon’s armed forces with the aim of boosting the country’s defense against terror threats.