Suspicious foreign efforts aim to create rift in Iraq: Shamkhani

A senior Iranian official has underlined the need for consultation and cooperation among Iraqi groups of various faiths and ethnicities, warning of foreign plots in the Arab country to cause rifts among people.

According to Press TV, in a meeting with the head of the Iraqi National Alliance (INA), Ammar al-Hakim, in Tehran on Monday, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani urged all Iraqi groups to remain vigilant and boost their convergence to thwart such "suspicious attempts."

“The only way to establish sustainable stability in Iraq is to popularize the process of defense and establish security,” Shamkhani said.

He hailed the recent victories of the Iraqi army soldiers and popular forces in operations to rid different locations of terrorists, particularly in the strategic northern city of Mosul.

A unified and strong campaign by all Shia, Sunni, Kurd, Turkmen and Izadi Iraqis against acts of aggression and crimes by terrorists is a clear symbol of national unity and integrity in Iraq, the SNSC secretary said.

Shamkhani also urged all Muslim countries and the international community to effectively fight Takfiri extremism and its regional supporters.

Hakim, for his part, said political integrity and national unity are the most important needs of Iraq in the country’s fight against Takfiri terrorism and the establishment of stability as well as economic and social development.

The INA head praised Iran’s continuous support for Iraq in the campaign against terrorism and said strong bonds between the Iranian and Iraqi people in addition to the two countries’ resolve have prepared unique grounds for bolstering cooperation.

On Sunday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei received Hakim, who has served as the head of the INA, comprising Shia political parties, since September.

SS