The Speaker of the Iranian parliament has said that his government will continue to provide assistance to the Kurdistan Region just like as they helped Iraqi Kurds in the past during the struggle agains former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussain.

On Friday Speaker Ali Larijani visited the KRG capital Erbil and met with Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani and KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani. Larijani also visited Sulaymaniyah, where he met with former Iraqi President and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) founder Jalal Talabani and other senior PUK officials.

“Today the Kurdistan Region is facing the threat of Islamic State (IS) and everyone should assist them,” said Larijani.

“The relationship of Iran with the Kurdistan Region has been good and friendly in the past and is now. This relationship belongs to the time of the Iran – Iraq war in 1980-1988 when Saddam treated the Kurds extremely harshly,’ added Larijani.

Commenting on Iran’s reaction to the idea of creating a Sunni autonomous region in Iraq, Larijani said, “Social formations of Iraq shouldn’t be changed. Mentioning such topics now is not in the interests of any party.”

Speaking about helping the Kurdistan Region, he noted, “In the Kurdistan Region, all parties and officials are our friends and allies. Kurds have historical relations with Iran. We have always, in the time of Saddam and now, readily provided help to the Kurdistan Region in any sort of crisis.”

“In the war against IS insurgents, Iran has helped the Kurdistan Region and the help of Iran helped the region survive the troubles,” added Larijani.

Since the Islamic State attacks against the Kurdistan region and northern Iraq began, Iran has been playing a large role in fighting the insurgents and its officials have repeatedly said that its forces were the main factor of pushing IS militants back from the region.

Bas News