Iran Foreign Ministry casts doubt on US coalition against IS
Iran's Foreign Ministry said that the US-led coalition to fight the Islamic State includes countries that had helped fuel terrorism in the region.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman has said there are “ambiguities” about the coalition US President Barack Obama presented in his speech Sept. 10 to fight the Islamic State group (IS) and accused the United States of attempting to fight IS with the same countries that helped create it.
“The coalition known as the international coalition to fight IS … is faced with serious ambiguities and there are fundamental doubts about its seriousness to fight against the root and true reasons for terrorism,” said Marzieh Afkham.
She said, “Some of the countries in the coalition are among financial and military supporters of terrorists in Iraq and Syria, and some others have reneged on their international duties.”
Afkham did not name these countries, but Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been two of the main sponsors of Syria’s armed opposition. Iran has been the main supporter of Syria’s government, along with Russia. In Iraq, Iran has supported the Shiite-led governments since the 2003 overthrow of former leader Saddam Hussein, while Saudi Arabia has kept its distance.
