Iran: US playing with fire with Islamic State
After Kerry rules out Iranian involvement in fight against Islamic State, Iranian officials say US policy for destroying group will not work, and could start 'huge fire' in region.
Iranian officials slammed the US policy on fighting Islamic State forces currently ravaging Iraq and Syria. The comments came after US Secretary of State John Kerry ruled out Iranian involvement in a broad coalition forming to fight the radical group.
Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani told Iranian media that "the US logic for annihilating the ISIL (an acronym for the Islamic State) will not result in reforms in the Middle-East and won't destroy the ISIL, rather it will cause an overwhelming fire of hatred in this region."
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According to him "The US is pursuing its own interests in the region, but the country should know that the nations of the region are awake and Washington’s game may result in a huge fire.
"Certainly, the ISIL won't be annihilated by the US air attacks," he said.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday his country is opposed to Iran's participation because of its "engagement in Syria and elsewhere."
The secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council also accused the US of violating the sovereignty of nations on the "pretext of fighting terrorism" in Iraq and Syria.
"On the pretext of fighting terrorism, the United States want to pursue their unilateral policies and violate the sovereignty of states," Ali Shamkhani said, quoted by the official IRNA news agency.
He said Washington was "trying to divert the eyes of the world from its pivotal role in supporting and equipping the terrorists in Syria in a bid to topple the legitimate regime."
Shamkhani was the latest Iranian official to criticize an international coalition the United States is building against the jihadist Islamic State group, which has captured large parts of Iraq and Syria.
On Thursday, foreign ministry spokesperson Marzieh Afhkham cast doubt on the "sincerity" of the coalition.
Last week, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused the United States of not taking the threat from IS militants in Iraq and Syria seriously.
He also charged that US aid had previously helped the jihadists, alluding to support given by Washington to other rebel groups in Syria, some of which has found its way into the hands of IS.
Iran has been Syrian President Bashar Assad's main ally since the revolt against his rule erupted in March 2011 and has also provided military advisers to the Shiite-led government in Iraq to help it battle the jihadists.
Shamkhani's comments come as France prepares to host a conference on Iraq in Paris on Monday to which Iran has not been invited.
AFP contributed to this report
