Tehran, Iran, Dec. 6
By Milad Fashtami - Trend:
Iran is ready to join any anti-so-called Islamic State coalition led by Syria or Iraq, said an Iranian member of parliament Friday.
Abbas Ali Mansouri, a member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission told Trend Agency Dec. 5 that Syria and Iraq has suffered most from the IS (Which at times is also referred to as ISIL or ISIS).
The Iranian lawmaker said that any international coalition against this group should be led by one of these two countries.
"The IS group has been created by the United States, in cooperation with some European and regional countries. So forming a coalition against the militant group by the very same countries is questionable," he said.
"As the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said previously, the ISIL group's main goal is to harm Islam. So fighting the group is among Iran's top priorities, but we will not join the US-led coalition since we don't trust in the sincerity of the members."
"If Syria and Iraq ask Iran for any help, Tehran will do its best to help them," Mansouri said, adding that Tehran has so far provided the mentioned countries with any requested aid, including training and consultations.
In regards to recent reports about Iran's airstrikes against IS positions in Iraq, the MP said that nothing has been reported to the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Majlis, or parliament.
"The issue will be discussed at the Sunday (Dec. 7) meeting," he noted.
The U.S. Defense Department reported earlier this week that Iranian fighter jets have attacked IS militants in eastern Iraq in recent days.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham, however, said on Dec. 3 that Tehran's policy of providing military assistance based on international regulations has not changed.