Baghdad, May 27: Iraq’s leadership have cautioned of the risks of dangerous war during an official visit by Mohammed Javad Zarif, Iranian foreign minister, whose nation is trapped in a tensed standoff with the United States.
According to Dawn news reports, Iranian foreign minister’s visit to Iraq – caught in the middle of its two allies Iran and the US – comes after a decision reached by Washington to deploy additional 1,500 American troops to the Middle East amidst rising tensions between Iran-US.
Zarif held a meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Mohammed Ali al-Hakim, after which while attending a joint news conference, he said, “We are currently repelling all the efforts of war against Iran, whether economic or military.” Zarif added, “We will face them with strength and we will resist.”
Also, Hakim said: “We stand by our neighbour Iran, and economic sanctions are unnecessary and cause great suffering to the Iranian people.”
Iraq’s Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi warned of “danger of war” on Saturday night during his meeting with Iranian foreign minister, Iraqi prime minister office reported.
It said Mahdi pleaded for the “stability of the region and the upholding of the nuclear deal” while referring to a landmark International Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty which was reached in 2015 between Tehran and Washington to curb Iran’s nuclear program.
Iraqi President Barham Saleh also discussed “the need to prevent all war or escalation” with Zarif, his office said.
Zarif has on Saturday called on the US decision of deployment of additional troops to the Middle East a “very dangerous and a threat to international peace and security”.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has on Thursday vowed the country will neither surrender to the US nor “give up” its goals even if the American attacks the nation.
Also read:
- US move to deploy extra troops to Middle East deemed as ‘threat to world peace’: Iran FM Zarif
- President Rouhani vows Iran will neither surrender to US nor ‘give-up’ its goals