Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan (R) shakes hands with his Iraqi counterpart, Khaled al-Obeidi, in Tehran on December 29, 2014.[/caption]Iran is prepared to boost defense and military cooperation with Iraq and help the country strengthen its military prowess, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan says.
Irans support for the Iraqi armed forces is part of the Islamic Republics defense and security strategies, Dehqan said in a meeting with Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi in Tehran on Monday.
He added that support for Iraqs unity and territorial integrity, promotion of democracy based on the countrys constitution, full establishment of security and the war-stricken countrys progress in all fields are among Irans fundamental and sustainable policies.
The Iranian minister further commended the recent victories by Iraqi armed forces over the ISIL Takfiri militants and expressed hope that the fight against terrorism would seriously continue in the country.
Dehqan strongly criticized unilateral measures under the pretext of battling the ISIL militants and said such moves would lead to the persistence and spread of terrorism in the region.
He emphasized that any military intervention in Iraq and Syria against the terrorists must be carried out in coordination with the two countries governments.
Obeidi, for his part, said Iraq regards Irans support for its armed forces as a strategic imperative.
He also called for Irans cooperation in countering terrorism and corruption as well as the reconstruction of the war-torn country.
Iraqi forces have made fresh gains against the ISIL Takfiri terrorists during recent weeks. The most notable of all operations came in November when Iraqi forces retook the strategic town of Baiji and its refinery from the terrorists. The Iraqi army also managed to liberate key districts in the city of Samarra in early December.
Iran has repeatedly stressed that it will not interfere militarily in Iraq and Syria, but the Islamic Republic continues to provide support to both countries against ISIL in the form of defense consultancy and humanitarian aid.
By Press TV
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