In a meeting with Iraqi elites in Baghdad, Rouhani said the hegemonic powers had brought Daesh and other terrorists to the region in an attempt to sow discord among its countries, nations, tribes and religions so they could justify their illegitimate presence in the region, offer a violent picture of Islam and ultimately portray themselves as the “saviors.”
However, he added, the Iraqi and Syrian nations -- along with the vigilant people of the region -- foiled the plots hatched by the imperialist powers.
“Muslims in the region managed to let the world know that the terrorists are not true Muslims, and that Islam is the religion of justice, mercy and peaceful coexistence among all ethnicities and religions contrary to all the Islamophobic propaganda,” Rouhani said.
Regional nations, he said, showed the world that the global arrogance, itself, is the main sponsor of terrorists, adding, “It is clear where they (terrorists) receive financial and military support and how and in which markets they sell looted artifacts.”
“We did not allow imperialist powers to present themselves as the region’s saviors and now everyone knows that the Western powers had no role in the destruction of terrorists in the region,” the Iranian president said.
It was, in fact, Iraq’s nation and army as well as its clerics’ fatwas that led to the elimination of terrorists there,” Rouhani added.
The Iranian president warned, however, that the issue of terrorism still remains to be solved.
“Terrorists may still create problems for people of the region in different ways as the Americans have other dreams for the region and are transferring the terrorists to Afghanistan, Central Asia and the Caucasus,” Rouhani said.
Elsewhere is his remarks, the Iranian chief executive hailed Tehran-Baghdad ties as excellent and exemplary in the region and the world, urging strong unity between Iran and Iraq as well as other regional friendly countries.
Additionally on Tuesday, Rouhani held talks with the former Iraqi prime minister, Haider al-Abadi.
During the meeting, the Iranian president expressed his satisfaction with growing bilateral relations and called for boosting cooperation in the fields of trade, economy and higher education.
Iran's President Hassan Rouhnai (R) meets former Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi in Baghdad on March 12, 2019. (Photo by president.ir)
Abadi, for his part, highlighted the importance of Rouhani’s trip and hailed close cooperation between the two neighbors in the fight against terrorism over the past years.
All Iraqi parties and politicians support enhancing ties with Iran, he said, noting that no factor could damage the strategic relations.
Rouhani also sat down with Iraqi National Security Adviser Falih Alfayyadh and Nouri al-Maliki, leader of the Islamic Dawa party.