Zarif Stresses Iran’s Continued Arms Aid to Regional Allies

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif underlined the country’s firm decision to continue development of its defense program as well as its arms aid to those regional states that are fighting terrorism.

“We have announced that our defense capability will continue unharnessed and our arms aids to our allies will continue too,” Zarif said, addressing a meeting to study the Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action (JCPOA) agreed by Tehran and the world powers to remove differences on Iran’s nuclear program on July 14.

He stressed that if it hadn’t been for the Islamic Republic and its aids in the region and if Tehran hadn’t bravely sided with the regional nations in the war on terrorism, the certain capitals in the region would have been occupied by the ISIL terrorist group.

In relevant remarks in November, Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force Brigadier General Esmayeel Qa’ani said Baghdad remained untouched by ISIL terrorist group due to Iran’s support and assistance.

“The ISIL terrorists sought to surround Baghdad but they failed in reaching their ominous goals thanks to Iran’s supports,” Qa’ani said in North Khorassan province at the time.

Noting that the ISIL terrorists had been left with no more command center and are searching for new shelters, he said ISIL is becoming weaker and weaker day by day and is being annihilated.

Also in November, senior military officials in Baghdad said Commander of the IRGC Quds Force Major General Qassem Soleimani planned the liberating operations of Jurf al-Sakher from the ISIL terrorist group’s occupation some three months before.

After the ISIL fled from the embattled town of Jurf al-Sakher, the Iraqi military gained a victory against the extremist group, with state television showing tanks and Humvees parading through the town and soldiers touring government buildings that had been occupied by the militants since August.

Photos soon emerged on independent Iraqi news websites revealing presence of the powerful Iranian general Soleimani, whose name has become synonymous with the victories of Iraqi ground forces.

An Iraqi commander, who agreed only to be identified by his nickname, Abu Zeinab, said Soleimani began planning the Jurf al-Sakher operation three months ago.

Militia commanders told the AP that General Soleimani was on the front lines in Jurf al-Sakher, providing weapons training to some 7,000 troops and militia fighters, and coordinating with military commanders ahead of the operation.

Some other militia commanders, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to the media, described Soleimani as “fearless” — one pointing out that the Iranian general never wears a flak jacket, even on the front lines.

“Soleimani has taught us that death is the beginning of life, not the end of life,” one commander said.