Ali Larijani Describes Anti-ISIL Coalition as Pretext for US to Pursue Plots

"Mere military solutions and bombing certain terrorist positions presents no solution for fighting terrorism and the coalition to fight the ISIL is a pretext for the US and its allies to seek their goals in the region," Larijani said in a meeting with Portuguese Ambassador to Tehran Mario Fernando Nunes on Tuesday afternoon.

He underlined that the US and its regional allies which have now formed a coalition against the ISIL are the same supporters of the terrorist group which killed innocent Iraqi and Syrian people earlier.

Nunes, for his part, underlined his country's enthusiasm for bolstering ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and said, "Given the recent developments in the international community and Iran's progress and advancements, Portugal is interested in expanding its relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran in different aspects."

Earlier today, Larijani described the US-led coalition against the ISIL terrorist group as a "political joke", and said Tehran would not cooperate in such a fake coalition.

"The US president has said that they along with their regional allies will uproot terrorism in the world which is a ridiculous political jokes," Larijani said, addressing an open session of the parliament in Tehran.

He underscored that terrorism couldn’t be uprooted with airstrikes, adding that the air attacks would have two consequences; firstly, killing and displacing the people who live in the bombed regions; secondly, displaying the ineffectiveness of the US resort to power.

"These US attacks will spread terrorism, as the bombings in Afghanistan didn’t uproot terrorism and, rather, helped the terrorists' coming in control and spread in other countries," Larijani said.

He condemned the US and other western states' moves in the region, and said, "We have opposed terrorism in the region since the beginning and will really fight against it but we don’t cooperate with the fake coalitions as we don’t see them legitimate."

After the so-called US-led coalition against the ISIL declared its creation, Iran lashed out at the western states for pursuing a double-standard policy towards campaign against terrorism in various countries.

Source: Fars