Iran ‘helpful’ in fight against ISIL in Iraq, Kerry says

US Secretary of State John Kerry praises the role Iran plays in the fight against ISIL Takfiri terrorists in Iraq, calling it "helpful."

According to Press TV, Kerry made the remarks at the Aspen Ideas Festival in the US state of Colorado on Tuesday.

He was answering a question on whether Iran’s role in Iraq is "more helpful or more harmful."

Kerry’s remarks followed comments by Brent McGurk, the US special envoy to oversee the so-called fight on Daesh terrorists.

"We think most of these popular mobilization forces do operate under the control of the Iraqi state, but about 15-20% of them actually do not," McGurk said. "And those groups are a fundamental problem."

Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a high-ranking commander of the Popular Mobilization Units, told Press TV in an exclusive interview in June that Iranian military advisors were helping Iraqi army soldiers and allied forces following an “an official request” from Baghdad.

“The presence of experts and advisers from Iran gave us a major boost. They provided us with (military) guidelines, and even prevented the fall of the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, Erbil," he said.

Earlier this month, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said Baghdad needed help from its friends, including Iran, to be able to take out the terrorists wreaking havoc in the Muslim country.

SS