Iran Doubtful About U.S. Goals in Mideast

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An Iranian official on Monday voiced doubts about the sincerity of the U.S.-led coalition against ISIL militants.

Date: 22 September 2014 - 21:32

News ID: ۵۴۳۳

"Iran has doubts about U.S. intentions to fight terrorist groups,” Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Amir Abdollahian said during a meeting with Muhammad Yusuf Haji, a senior Kenyan senator and former defense minister, here.
"From the beginning of the crisis in Syria, we told the Westerners that supporting terrorism would threaten the world’s security,” he said.
Al-Qaeda-linked groups have become more professional after more than a decade of terrorist activities in Afghanistan and Iraq, the official added.
"They can carry out serious terrorist operations anywhere in the world. The U.S. has now realized this and called for cooperation with Iran,” Amir Abdollahian said, adding, "But we have doubts about their intention to fight terrorism.”
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian diplomat commented on bilateral relations between Tehran and Nairobi, emphasizing the need to promote mutual cooperation in all spheres.
Yusuf Haji, for his part, voiced his country’s willingness to expand bilateral ties with Iran in diverse areas.
"Kenya is aware of Iran’s recent achievements in the area of science and technology and the Kenyan government and parliament are keen to promote cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said.
Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Hassan Firouzabadi dismissed as a "big plot” the U.S.-led coalition, saying Washington is only trying to expand its influence in the Middle East.
"From the viewpoint of the (Iranian) armed forces, I say that we see a big plot against the region behind this coalition,” Firouzabadi told reporters on the sidelines of military parades, held here Monday to mark the beginning of the Sacred Defense Week.
He stressed that the U.S. and its allies decided to use the battle against the ISIL as a pretext to open the way for military presence in Syria, Iraq and the Arab and regional states, after the White House’s previous plans for the Middle East ended in failure.
The commander also referred to the ISIL as a "trap” laid by the U.S. in order to discredit Islam, underlining that the notorious group has nothing to do with the religion.