FM Official: Iraq Developments Exceed Regional Borders

Tehran, July 8, IRNA – Foreign Ministry official Nasser Kanˈani said the recent developments in Iraq transcend the regional frontiers. Talking to IRNA, he said the current developments in Iraq were beyond the intervention of a number of regional countries. He said the US is seeking to materialize its political objectives by manipulating terrorist groups. He stressed that the Iraqi army was recovering from its initial shock and restoring its power thanks to the support of popular forces who have entered the scene following the religious decrees issued by senior Shiite clerics. Now, things are changing to the benefit of the Iraqi army with the Daesh (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) terrorists beginning to move back, he added. The official underlined that the Iraqi army is well capable of confronting terrorists if foreign support for the group is halted. He said since the time the Americans were forced to quit Iraq under public pressure, they have been trying to change the power balance in their own interest. He noted that as many international commentators and analysts believe, the Iraqi government is currently subject to the invasion of foreign and alien forces./end