Iran unwilling to attend France anti-ISIL conference: Official

Iran has no interest in attending next week's international meeting in France on battling the Takfiri ISIL group operating in Iraq and Syria, a senior Iranian official says.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Sunday that the conference has a selective guest list and is just for show.

“Presence in a symbolic and selective meeting on fight against terrorism in Paris is not on our agenda,” Amir-Abdollahian added.

He emphasized that Iran favors a “real and nonselective” fight against terrorism in the region and the world.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is the first country that rushed to help Iraq in the fight against terrorism. We will continue our strong support for Iraq and Syria in the fight against terrorism,” the Iranian diplomat said.

France is scheduled to host a conference on Monday to discuss ways to tackle the ISIL terrorists in Iraq and Syria.

The Paris meeting would come as the US is forming a so-called international coalition to battle the Takfiri ISIL militants.

On Friday, US President Barack Obama said that the United States is assembling an international coalition with the goal to “snuff out” the ISIL terrorist group, adding that such extremist groups have “no place in the 21st century.”

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham on Thursday questioned the sincerity of the coalition.

The ISIL terrorists control large parts of Syria’s east and north. ISIL also sent its Takfiri militants into Iraq in June, seizing large swathes of land straddling the border between Syria and Iraq.