Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Related Articles
Tehran, SANA-Iranian President Hassan Rouhani reaffirmed Iran’s support to Syria and Iraq in their efforts to combat terrorist organizations, casting doubt on the US claims of fighting terrorism.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with NBC News, Rouhani cited Iran’s determination to prevent the terrorists of ISIL, an acronym for the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant terrorist organization, from “crossing red lines and occupying the Iraqi capital and holy cities.”
The Iranian president said it is important to obtain the consent of the people and governments of the countries whose airspace will be used for launching airstrikes against ISIL.
Rouhani ridiculed the US-led coalition against the terrorist organization as it includes nations that helped ISIL with weapons and training.
As he lashed out at ISIL barbarity, Rouhani said ISIL’ actions are at odds with Islamic tenets.
“They want to kill humanity,” he said. “And from the standpoint of the Islamic tenets and culture, killing an innocent person equals the killing of the whole humanity. And therefore, the killing and beheading of innocent people in fact is a matter of shame for them and it’s the matter of concern and sorrow for all mankind.”
Beheadings have been among the most common practices of ISIL terrorists in the areas they control. Their beheading of the American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and the Briton David Haines has sparked an international outrage.
Senior Iranian official: Washington’s decision to support terrorist organizations in Syria “strategic mistake”
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has censured the US administration’s decision to arm and train terrorist organizations in Syria, describing it as a “strategic mistake”.
His remarks came after the US House of Representatives approved President Barack Obama’s strategy to train and arm what it called “moderate” militants in Syria to tackle the threat of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorist organization.
“They want to play with the ISIL in Iraq, and provide opportunities for ISIL in Syria,” Amir-Abdollahian added.
“Arming moderate militants in Syria is a strategic mistake and is indeed double standards and considered as the escalation of insecurity and boosting of terrorism,” he added.
The Iranian official cited a lack of trust in the US intentions to fight terrorism. “We never trust the US for spearheading a fight against terrorism,” he further noted.
ISIL is now in control of vast swaths of territories in both Syria and Iraq. The ultra-extremist organization seeks to establish an Islamic state straddling Syria and Iraq.
Manal Ismael
