Larijani: Iran stands by Iraqi people

Tehran, Nov 11, IRNA – Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said in Tehran on Monday that Iran stands by the Iraqi people in line with opposing the Iraqi occupation by the United States. Larijani told Moaid Al Lami, President of Iraqi Journalists Syndicate (IJS) and vice-president of the Arab Journalists Association, that the western and Arab governments have developed differences with Iran and that they attempted to tarnish image of Iran for political motivation, because Iran gained independence after Islamic Revolution and refused to follow their lead. He said another problem the west has with Iran is that the country has supported establishment of democracy in such countries as Iraq and Iran takes it is as its duty to stand by Iraq opposing the US plan to occupy Iraq. Larijani made clear that Iran's stance was based on supporting the revolutionary countries. "Terrorism in the region is very important and as far as Daesh and the coalition to fight terrorism is concerned, the Islamic Republic of Iran doubts such a coalition. We think they wish to undermine Daesh merely not to destroy it completely, so they prefer aerial bombardment. In Syria, the wrong conduct of the Western governments caused irreparable damages on the Syrian nation, so a real coalition against Daesh should be formed." Al Lami for his part lauded the initiatives of the Isl;amic Republic of Iran and said that the Iranian principled stances on Iraq were crystal clear. He said Iraqi journalists' union has 17,000 members and is the most important union in the Middle East as 12,000 media institutions, including radios, TVs and newspapers have applied for the union./end