Rouhani: We’ll Do Everything to Protect Holy Shrines in Iraq

Local Editor

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani confirmed on Wednesday that Iran would do whatever it takes to protect revered shrines in Iraq against militants fighting the Baghdad government.

"Dear Karbala, Dear Najaf, Dear Kadhimiyah and Dear Samarra, we warn the great powers and their lackeys and the terrorists, the great Iranian people will do everything to protect them," he said of the Holy shrines in a speech in Khoram-abad, near the Iraq border.

In his speech, Rouhani mentioned petitions signed by Iranians who said they were willing to fight in Iraq "to destroy the terrorists and protect the holy sites", which are visited by hundreds of thousands of Iranian pilgrims annually.

"Thank God there are enough volunteers Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds in Iraq to fight the terrorists," he added.

Moreover, the Iranian President assured that the Iraqis will defeat terrorists as well as their regional and international supporters.

The Iranian pledges follow a call by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani for Iraqis to volunteer to resist the onslaught spearheaded by the terrorist so-called "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant".

The major Shiite shrines in Iraq are in Najaf and Karbala, south of the capital, in the district of Kadhimiyah in Baghdad and in Samarra to the north, which the militants have made repeated, but so far unsuccessful, efforts to enter.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team