Iran Region’s Dominant Player: Minister
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran has such a great influence on the regional developments that even the enemies have acknowledged its clout, Iranian interior minister said Saturday.
“Despite all pressures, the Islamic Republic of Iran has the upper hand in the region, and the enemies have conceded that no upheaval would occur in the region without Iran’s presence,” Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said in a cultural ceremony in Tehran on Saturday.
Deploring the emergence of terrorist groups across the Middle East that wreak havoc in the name of religion, the minister said Iran has proved to be indicator of a true image of Islam, the religion of mercy, peace and human rights.
Following a rapid military attack on Iraq launched by the ISIL terrorist group in summer 2014, Iran attracted global attention as a staunch ally of Baghdad that could greatly help hamper the Takfiri group’s advance in the Arab country.
Back in November, The Wall Street Journal reported that US President Barack Obama had written a letter to Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei in an effort to promote US-Iranian cooperation against the ISIL.
And in an address to the World Economic Forum in the Swiss city of Davos on January 23, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi hailed Iran’s “constructive role” in fight against ISIL terrorists.
The Iraqi PM also praised Iran’s help to the Arab country in the initial stages of the war.
“Iran’s participation in initial stages of the war against the ISIL was very constructive,” Abadi said, adding that Iranians helped the Arab country and immediately provided weapons for them.
