Iraqi Army Joint Chief of Staff Babaker Zebari in a meeting with Iran’s military attaché to Baghdad Mostafa Moradiyan on Wednesday appreciated Iran for its military aids and assistance, and called for the further expansion of defensive cooperation between the two countries.
“Iraq is willing to expand its defense relations with Iran and it is thankful of Iran’s relentless help and support for the Iraqi nation in the recent critical conditions,” Zebari said.
He reiterated that Iran has always been the first country to rush to Iraq’s aid, specially in the fight against terrorism, and said, “The Iraqi nation and history will never forget this aid.”
Moradiyan, for his part, said that Iran will continue to stand beside the Iraqi nation as before.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to share its experiences with the Iraqi government and nation in its fight against terrorism,” he added.
Iran and Iraq have enjoyed growing ties ever since the overthrow of the former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, during the 2003 US invasion of the Muslim country.
In relevant remarks in November, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi lauded Iran for its support and assistance to Baghdad in fighting terrorism, and said he would never be coaxed into destroying or undermining relations with Iran for some short-term benefits.
“I will not spoil my ties with Iran for the sake of certain sides,” Abadi said in an interview with al-Mayadeen news channel.
“At present we are facing a life and death battle and Iran has stood beside us in this war,” he added.
Last month, Senior Military Aide to the Iranian Supreme Leader Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi stressed the importance of the regional states’ security to Iran, and said Tehran is providing both Baghdad and Damascus with military advice.
“We assume security in Syria and Iraq as our own security and even view insecurity in Afghanistan as a kind of insecurity in Iran,” Safavi told reporters in Tehran.
“We don’t conceal that we are present in Syria and Iraq as advisors and give advice to Mr. Bashar al-Assad and Mr. Haider al-Abadi,” he added.
Safavi underlined that the regional states’ security is so much important to Iran that it has recently lost one of its veteran military advisors, Brigadier General Mohammad Ali Allahdadi, in a recent Israeli air raid on Syria as he was on a mission to help the Arab country with its fight against terrorists.
