Shamkhani: Countdown started for expulsion of US forces from region

The secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) says the countdown for the expulsion of US forces from the region has already started after the assassination of Iran’s Lt. Gen. Qassem Soleimani and his comrades in Baghdad in early January.

According to Press TV, Ali Shamkhani made the remarks in a meeting with Mustafa Kadhimi, the head of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS), in Baghdad on Sunday, saying that the “cowardly assassination of Qassem Soleimani and Deputy commander of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units forces Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, was “a strategic mistake committed by Trump and the wicked team that governs the White House.”

He said mass rallies held to oppose the US occupation and support Iraq's independence and national sovereignty following the assassination of top anti-terror commanders indicated that the Iraqi people are on the frontline of the path to the expulsion of US forces from the region.

The SNSC secretary added that the Islamic Republic has always supported the formation of a strong and efficient government in Iraq based on people's determination, saying, "Iraq's political and security developments have serious impacts on stability and peace in the region."

Kadhimi, for his part, hailed Iran's effective role in battling terrorism and promoting stability and security in the region.

Iran's success in fighting terrorism and establishing security inside the country and in border areas clearly indicates high efficiency of the Islamic Republic's security model, the Iraqi security official said.

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani arrived in Baghdad on Saturday night at the head of a high-ranking politico-security delegation.

Shamkhani met Iraq's adviser of the National Security Council Falih Fayyad on Sunday and discussed security and regional issues and Baghdad's role in the developments of the region.

SS