Iran Press/Middle East: Iran's Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani met the Iraqi Caretaker Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi on Sunday 8 March in Baghdad to discuss the latest developments in the region and bilateral issues.
Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani said the countdown to the expulsion of the US troops from the region has begun.
Referring to the US assassination of Iran’s Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and deputy chief of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis earlier this year, Shamkhani noted that Washington’s act of terror in targeting commanders of resistance on January 3 started the countdown of its troops’ expulsion from the region.
Shamkhani added that the participation of millions of Iraqi people in rallies against US occupation proved that the Iraqi nation is the flag-bearer of ousting the US from West Asia.
Abdul-Mahdi also expressed his gratitude to the Iranian government and people for their unflinching support during Iraq’s war against Takfiri terrorists.
The caretaker prime minister blamed the US for making the region’s more complicated by pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal and pressing Iraq to sever ties with Iran.
“The logic of geopolitics urges us to enjoy our neighbors’ capacities to serve our national interests and security,” added Abdul-Mahdi.
Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani met National Security Advisor Falih Fayyadhion
Shamkhani also met with Iraqi Intelligence Service Chief Mustafa al-Kadhimi and National Security Advisor Falih Fayyadh.
In a joint news conference with Fayadh, the Iranian official touched on Israeli acts of aggression, saying "the Zionists are against regional stability and security."
"We hope the day will come when the region we will see no trace of the Zionists," Shamkhani said.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, he said, has always wished stability and peace for Iraq.
Fayadh said Baghdad will never forget Iran's assistance to defeat Daesh terrorist group, reiterating his country's willingness to continue all-out cooperation with Tehran.
Still, he is scheduled to meet with the Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammad al-Halbousi.
Meetings with leaders of Iraqi political factions are of other cases on Shmakhani's agenda in Iraq.
The secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani heading a high ranking political-security delegation left Tehran for Baghdad on Saturday night.
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