The foreign countries endeavors for fanning the flames of violence in the region, have led to escalation of chaos and insecurity in Iraq and continuation of the crisis has deliberately inflicted heavy expenses on the Iraqi government and nation.
Following the escalation of ISIL terrorist groups' threats against the Iraq, the Islamic Republic of Iran more than any other countries stood by the Iraqi people and defended the territorial integrity of this Arabic country.
Iran's all-out support from Iraq also had played a pivotal role in diminishing Daesh threats in this Arabic country.
Considering important role of Iraq in the region, Iran believes that peace and security in the region should be restored by participation of all countries.
In an indication of fostering Tehran-Baghdad relations, Iraqi Parliament Speaker Salim Al-Jabouri arrived in Tehran on Aug 20 for holding talks with high-ranking Iranian officials including President Hassan Rouhani, Chairman of the Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani and his counterpart Ali Larijani.
Prior to the visit, Al-Jabouri also visited Iran late August 2015, during which he held talks with a number of top Iranian officials.
Although more than a decade has passed following the US invasion on Iraq, this Arab country has so far not experienced even a single day of peace.
Uprooting Terrorism
President Rouhani in a meeting with Iraqi parliament speaker praised the recent victories of the Iraqi army and popular forces against terrorist groups, saying the reinforcement of unity among Iraqis of all ethnicities and faiths will certainly uproot terrorism in the country.
He underscored that Iraqi parliament is a symbol of unity and fraternity among Iraqis of all ethnicities and faiths and can boost national unity by taking on an integrated role in the fight against terrorism.
Rouhani further said that increasing consultations between Iran and Iraq is necessary for promoting peace and stability in the Middle East.
Sectarian Violence
Ayatollah Rafsanjani in a meeting with al-Jabouri warned against fanning the flames of Shia-Sunni conflict in Iraq, saying that it stirs up religious sentiments being misused by the enemies of Islam.
Rafsanjani underscored that the internal discords after destruction of the terrorists will prepare the ground for rising a dictator like Saddam Hussein in Iraq.
'The experience of history says that religious conflict will prolong wherever they occur and we should not allow the Muslims to fight with each other rather than unity and cooperation,' Rafsanjani said.
He expressed surprise with the clear and secret relations between certain Muslim governments and the Zionist regime, asking how such relations are possible while they know that the Zionists have pulled out the Palestinian Muslims from their own homes and lands.
Liberation of Mosul
Meanwhile, Shamkhani in a meeting with Iraqi parliament speaker said liberation of northern Iraqi city of Mosul from the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group could be the beginning of national and geographical unity in this Arab country.
Commenting on the importance of forging political stability in Iraq, Shamkhani believed that the total uprooting of terrorism is being pursued in this Arab country thanks to the army forces endeavors and all-out support of religious, political as well as ethnic groups.
'The Islamic Republic of Iran has always stood beside the Iraqi government and nation,' he said, expressing hope that the operation for liberating Mosul could start with participation of all Iraqi groups, the indigenous forces in the northern Nineveh province in particular.
Describing terrorism as the most important and immediate danger threatening the whole region, he added, 'we should try to restore peace to Iraq and the whole region with empathy, unity and defeat of terrorists.'
US Ominous Plot
In a meeting with al-Jabouri, Majlis Speaker underscored that the US assumed that Iraq will be a US state after fall of Saddam Hussein and was seeking to appoint American Generals as Iraqi governors, but, the eminent Iraqi personalities and Ayatollah Sistani on top and Iraqi people stood up to the ominous plot.
Larijani also believes that the two countries also enjoy many commonalities and have common stands on regional and international developments helping bolster relations, adding the unrest and the measures of the Takfiri terrorist groups will be to the benefit of US and Zionist regime.
Reciprocal Visa-Free Travel
In a mealtime, Iraqi premier also called for lifting visa requirement between the two countries and the Iranian side is ready to welcome the proposal.
Back in Jan 24, 2016, Larijani and Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on the sidelines of the 11th session of Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (PUIC) in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, discussed a reciprocal visa waiver program to boost tourism and trade transactions between the two neighbors.
Al-Abadi said he will follow up on the issue of visa-free travel for the Iranian and Iraqi nationals willing to exchange visits.
Anti-Terror Campaign
Talking to al-Jabouri, Zarif stressed that Iraq is on the front line of fight against terrorism and extremism and Iran stands by the Iraqi nation and government in anti-terror campaign.
Praising political stability in Iraq, Zarif reiterated that all Iraqi leaders including the parliament speaker have taken effective steps to create such an atmosphere, expressing that Iraqi government and nation have been successful so far in fight against extremism and terrorism.
He hoped that the campaign against terrorism and extremism in Iraq would be at the final stages and that confrontation with terrorism in Mosul would lead to unity of all Iraqi ethnic groups, tribes and followers of different religions.
Considering important role of Iraq in the region, Zarif said that peace and security in the region should be restored by participation of all countries.
In conclusion, it is also worth mentioning that Iran and Iraq, both, enjoy the unique opportunity to foster relation in the chaotic Middle East region, thanks to good neighborliness, regional common goals, threats and opportunities, unique historical and cultural affinities.
Following last year’s nuclear agreement between Iran and the 5+1 group of countries, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Tehran believes that the Iranian and Iraqi parliaments should make use of the appropriate opportunity created to boost economic cooperation.
Touching upon the Iran's pivotal role in Iraq and the Islamic Republic readiness to expand ties with this Arab country in counter-terrorism efforts, the two sides also enjoy vast common interests in fostering economic relations.
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