Iran Trustworthy Partner for Supplying Weapons
(FNA)- Head of Iraq's al-Anbar Salvation Council Sheikh Hamid al-Hais lauded Iran's assistance to his country in fighting terrorism, describing Tehran as a reliable military partner.
"This is the right of al-Anbar province's tribal leaders to ask for assistance from any side to supply their necessary weapons for fighting the ISIL," Hais told FNA on Wednesday.
"Given its military assistance provided to the Iraqis, Iran is considered as a more reliable and closer side to us," he added.
Hais blasted the US lack of commitment to its weapons contracts with Iraq, and said, "As time is passing by and fighting the terrorists needs money, weapons and forces, we haven’t received any weapons from the American side yet."
Iran and Iraq have enjoyed growing ties ever since the overthrow of the former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, during the 2003 US invasion of the Muslim country.
In November, Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force Brigadier General Esmayeel Qa'ani said Baghdad remained untouched by ISIL terrorist group due to Iran's support and assistance.
"The ISIL terrorists sought to surround Baghdad but they failed in reaching their ominous goals thanks to Iran's supports," Qa'ani said in North Khorassan province.
Noting that the ISIL terrorists had been left with no more command center and were searching for new shelters, he said ISIL was becoming weaker and weaker day by day and was being annihilated.
Also last month, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Hassan Firouzabadi underlined the country's readiness to send weapons and equipment to Iraq to help its neighbor in campaign on terrorism.
"Since security of our country and Iraq is interwoven and we couldn’t remain indifferent to the cruelty against them, our skilled people and a number of brave Iranian commanders went to Iraq to provide Iraqi commanders with advice and consultations and help them," Firouzabadi told reporters in Tehran.
He said Iran was ready to dispatch any humanitarian aid needed by Iraq, and added, "We are ready to send weapons and other equipment to that country through legal channels once requested by the Iraqi government."