Iran sends letter to UN demand that Iraq shut down terrorist cells
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The letter stresses Iran's "inherent right to self-defense under international law."
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The Iranian Flag (NBC News)
A letter has been sent to the members of the United Nations by the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations requesting Iraq to comply with its commitments and shut down headquarters pertaining to terrorist organizations on its lands.
The statement read, "For years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been a target of terrorist groups based in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. They have recently intensified their activities by illicitly transferring a huge quantity of weapons into Iran to arm their affiliates intended at performing terrorist operations."
It further highlighted Iraq's responsibility "to maintain effective control over its entire territory and internationally recognized borders," adding that Iran has previously shared evidence and information with the Iraqi government regarding the terrorist groups, their whereabouts, and their plots.
Shedding light on the fact that no action is still taken by the Iraqi government, Iran's statement expressed that "Iran has no choice but to exercise its inherent right to self-defense under international law in order to safeguard its national security and defend its people and has recently launched necessary and proportionate military operations against terrorist groups' bases in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, which was meticulously planned and precisely targeted on terrorist locations."
In conclusion, Iran reiterated its "unwavering" commitment to addressing "this issue with Iraq through bilateral mechanisms as a part of its ongoing fight against terrorism. During their conversations, the Foreign Ministers of the two countries emphasized respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq, the need to combat terrorism in accordance with international obligations, and the importance of bilateral cooperation in addressing the challenges posed by terrorist activities."
Land operations are an 'impossibility'
In an attempt to block the spread of terrorist groups from Kurdistan into Iran and neighboring regions, Tasnim News Agency reported on November 14 that the IRGC's Ground Force hammered separatist terror organizations' positions with numerous rocket launchers, precision-strike weaponry, and drones. Iran's Foreign Ministry affirmed that military action against separatist groups is legitimate retaliation for their violations against Iran's security and borders and was done to protect national security.
This comes after the Komalah and Democrat terrorist groups attempted to infiltrate Iran through its border cities, with the IRGC stating, “These terrorists - who are backed by the global arrogance and are based in the Iraqi northern region – were forced to flee the country after accepting heavy casualties.”
In its statement, the IRGC stressed that officials of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region have been warned previously about the terrorist groups in the region, but no attention was paid to the warnings and no preventative measures were taken.
When the attacks began in September, the operation carried out by Tehran's forces was part of efforts to ensure "durable security" along the Iraqi-Iranian borders and "punish criminal terrorists," the IRGC clarified.
Most recently, media reports claims of Iranian plans for a ground operation against terrorist groups in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq were dismissed by Iran’s Ambassador to Baghdad, Mohammad Kazem Al-e Sadeq during an interview for the Iranian Al-Alam TV.
The Ambassador said, “The issue of ground advance on Iraqi soil is not true and is basically out of question. We respect the sovereignty of Iraq and have done a lot for the stability and territorial unity of Iraq, for its people, and for the prosperity of that country,” adding that it would be impossible for a ground operation in Iraq to take place.
