Obama Perplexed at ISIL’s Defeat against Iran

(FNA)- Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari underlined Iran's influential role in the region, and said even US President Barack Obama is surprised at Tehran's victory over the ISIL terrorist group in Iraq.

"The only country which helped and supported the Muslim states in Islamic Awakening developments was Iran, and when the ISIL emerged in Iraq, no country but Iran helped with its destruction," Jafari said, addressing the Basij (volunteer) forces in Tehran on Saturday.

"The world, even Obama, is astonished to see that the ISIL, with its plan to remain in Iraq for years, was defeated and Iran has turned into a plague for the ISIL in Iraq," he added.

In relevant remarks late January, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi lauded Iran's assistance to his country in fighting terrorism, describing Tehran as a reliable military partner.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, al-Abadi said that while the West was slow to deliver help to Iraq, Iran was filling the gap.

"I have received quite sizeable (amounts of) ammunition free of charge. And we have been promised deferred payments on some arms sales to Iraq," he added.

"They (Iranians) have been prompt in sending us arms and ammunition without even asking for immediate payments," he said in comments likely to be noted in Washington, which worries about the extent of Iranian influence over its neighbor.

Abadi made a special mention of Commander of Iran's Quds Force Major General Qassem Soleimani as an ally against the ISIL.

"We have respect for him and the Iranian establishment," he said when asked about the role Major General Soleimani played in the fight against the ISIL.

Al-Abadi further underlined that no Iranian soldier was or had been present on Iraqi soil.

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.