Iran Slams Leaders of Anti-ISIL Coalition for Hypocrisy

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham deplored the US-led Anti-ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) coalition as an illegal and hypocritical entity, and criticized the move for disrespecting global mechanisms and UN rules.

“From the perspective of the international law, the legal nature of the (anti-ISIL) coalition is seriously questionable as it has been formed outside the UN mechanisms, specially when considering that the specified goals of this coalition in campaign against terrorism are not in harmony with some of the previous and current actions adopted by the main sponsors of this coalition and a number of its members,” Afkham told reporters in Tehran on Wednesday.

 She pointed to the political hypocrisy of some of the so-called advocates of fight against terrorism, and said, “Fighting terrorism is more in need of political will and avoiding double-standards on terrorism than forming massive coalitions and staging media maneuvers, but unfortunately the records of some prominent members of the said coalition show that they have a thicker dossier of using terrorism as a tool and practicing double-standard on its instances.”

Afkham underlined that the Islamic Republic of Iran has always acted responsibly in this regard and on the same basis it lays emphasis on the need for responsible and sincere action of all countries in providing real help to the Iraqi government and nation to help them combat terrorism, and meantime avoid any military and political meddling in the internal affairs of countries on the pretext of fight against terrorism.

In relevant remarks on Monday, the Iranian Supreme Leader said the US had played no role in the ISIL’s recent defeat in Iraq, and stressed that Washington officials have repeatedly demanded Iran to join them in the fight against the ISIL, but Iran had rejected all their demands.

“During the days I was at the hospital, I had fun listening to the remarks of the US officials on fighting Daesh (ISIL),” Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said in an interview with Iran’s state-run TV on Monday as he left the hospital after a successful prostate surgery.

Ayatollah Khamenei described the US officials’ allegations about fighting the ISIL as hollow and biased, and said the US disappointment at Iran’s partnership in its incorrect and illegal coalition was an “unrivaled honor” for Tehran.

Ayatollah Khamenei elaborated on some details of the US demands for Iran’s cooperation in forming the anti-ISIL coalition, and said, “During the hard days of Daesh’s attacks on Iraq, the US ambassador to Iraq demanded our envoy in the country (Iraq) that Iran and the US meet for negotiations and coordination on Daesh. Our ambassador reflected the issue to Iran and although some officials didn’t voice opposition, I opposed it and said we will not cooperate with the Americans in this regard since they have a corrupt intention and stained hands and how could we have cooperation with the Americans under such conditions.”

Ayatollah Khamenei said that the US and its allies had earlier formed “a coalition of several countries against Syria, but they couldn’t do a damn thing”, and ensured that the same failure will be repeated with regard to Iraq.

Reiterating that the Americans were not serious about fighting the ISIL, he said, “The Americans and even Daesh are well aware that the move which broke Daesh’s backbone in Iraq was not the US action but the acts of the popular forces and the Iraqi army who had well learned the ways to fight Daesh and inflicted heavy damages on the group.”

BoroujerdiBlames US for ISIL Crisis in Region

Meanwhile, a senior Iranian lawmaker lashed out at Washington for supporting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists group in the Middle East, and said the anti-ISIL coalition has been formed by the US and its allies to save the Takfiri group from total annihilation.

“The ISIL Takfiri group has been formed by the US and its European allies and it is supported by them,” Chairman of the parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission AlaeddinBoroujerdi told FNA on Wednesday.

The prominent legislator reiterated that the US and its allies are seeking hard to save the ISIL Takfiri group through their anti-ISIL showoff moves.

“The US request for Iran’s cooperation in fight against ISIL is only a political game and a show of war on terrorism,” Boroujerdi said, underlining that all terrorist groups, including the ISIL, enjoy the support of the arrogant powers and their regional allies.

“The Americans have imposed the Takfiri groups, including the ISIL, on the countries such as Syria and Iraq and they have fomented and start this regional crisis,” Boroujerdi stated.

He pointed to the formation of the US-led anti-ISIL coalition, and said, “This suspicious move by the US has started at a time when Iraq’s military forces are having a tough, serious confrontation against the ISIL while enjoying the support of the Iraqi people and religious authorities.”

UN Underlines Iran’s Key Role in Region

On the other hand, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed the constructive role that Iran has always played in the settlement of the regional crises, and called for more interaction with Tehran to utilize it experiences and capabilities.

“Iran can play an effective and constructive role in resolving the regional crises, including Iraq, Syria and Yemen,” Ban said, addressing a press conference in New York on Tuesday.

“As I have said several times Iran is the most important country in the region,” the UN chief added.

He noted that Iran’s role in the restoration of peace and stability in the region is crucial, and said, “I hope that Tehran could continue its constructive and effective interaction for resolving these crises and restoring peace and stability to the Middle-East.”

He also said that he hopes to be able to meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad JavadZarif on the sidelines of the upcoming annual meeting of the UN General Assembly.

On Sunday, Ban Ki-moon in a message to Zarif demanded Tehran to help expedite election of the new president in Lebanon.

United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly submitted Ban’s message to Zarif’s deputy Hossein Amir Abdollahian in a meeting in Tehran.

FNA

R.S