Iran to be invited to Paris conference on Iraq

Iraq’s President Fuad Masum says Iran will be invited to an international conference in Paris next week, which will discuss the issue of Iraq and the battle against ISIL Takfiri terrorists.

In an exclusive interview with London-based Arabic-language newspaper Asharq al-Awsat on Friday, the Iraqi president stated that representatives of Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait and Turkey will take part in the Monday conference aimed at coordinating actions to push out the ISIL terrorists that are in control of large areas in Iraq.

He further noted that delegates from the European Union and the United States will be also in attendance.

Masum said the ISIL terrorist group poses a serious threat not just to Iraq but all the countries in the Middle East.

Tehran has on several occasions voiced support for the Iraqi government since it began fighting against the ISIL in June.

The Islamic Republic has also censured the United States for conducting airstrikes on the ISIL only after Washington’s interests were threatened by the militants.

The ISIL terrorists are in control of some areas in Syria and have captured large swathes of land in neighboring Iraq.

They are notorious for carrying out horrific acts of violence in the areas they have taken, including the mass execution of civilians as well as public decapitations and crucifixions.

The Iraqi and Syrian government forces are engaged in fierce battles with the ISIL militants to push them out of the captured areas.