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Iranian General Commander: US Presence in Iraq is Only to Protect Kurds
16.09.2014 – BasNews, Iran – The general commander of the Iranian force sees the action of the US against the Islamic State (IS) militants with suspicion, and the believes that US presence in Iraq is only to protect Kurds, and presents no threat to Iran.
Now, with the US and its international allies are fighting terrorists in Iraq, the US is about to establish a military air base in Erbil. Some Iranian leaders are concerned at the proximity of the base to their borders. On Tuesday, Iranian Forces General Commander Mohammed Ali Jaafari presented a speech in Tehran in recognition of Armed Forces Day. “The US feels they were defeated in Iraq in the past, so they have now formed an international alliance against these IS militants. The presence of the US in Iraq is only to protect Kurds,” said Jaafari.
He mentioned that while the US fights against the IS militants, they support some radical opposition groups in Syria.
Jaafari pointed out that if Iran had been invited to join the international alliance against IS militants, the US would have definitely rejected it because he believes that the US wants to grow stronger and be the only superpower in the world and the region. Commenting on the establishment of a US air base in Erbil, Jaafari said, “We think it is not a threat to us. We ignore the direct threat of superpowers and we believe that their direct threat to Iran is over. The current US presence in Iraq is to support the Kurds in the northern Iraq.” Jaafari rejected the idea of the Iranian military joining a US led intervention in Syria. “Our reaction will be political, not any direct military intervention in the country,” Jaafari said. Asked whether Iran has sent forces to Amrli, Salahadin province in Iraq to fight against IS insurgents, he denied it and said that Iran’s role was only to send military advisors to consult and plan attacks; Iranian forces don’t need to be sent there.
“20,000 Shiite Badr militants were sent to Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war in 1980-1988. They are extremely experienced and have defeated IS in Amrli,” concluded Jaafari.