Firoozabadi: Iran Will Not Have Military Presence in Iraq

The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic stated that Iran will not have a military presence in Iraq and that Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force, is present in Iraq as an 'advisor'. According to Fars News Agency, he also said: 'We consider the security and dignity of Iraq as our own security and dignity. Iraq is a safe margin for Iran.' Hassan Firoozabadi, on Sunday, March 8, in response to a question from the state news agency IRNA regarding whether the advisory presence of Iran in Iraq could turn into a military presence, said: 'No, Iran will not have a military presence in Iraq.' He emphasized: 'The presence of Major General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq is an advisory presence because he is a capable and influential commander and is well acquainted with complex warfare methods.' Mr. Firoozabadi added: 'What caused the Islamic Republic of Iran to have an advisory presence in Iraq was the disintegration of Iraqi systems due to American interference and presence.' The Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces also stressed: 'Today, the eyes and hearts of the peoples of the region are on the advisory experiences of Iranian commanders.' Mr. Firoozabadi's statements about the absence of a military presence in Iraq come at a time when Iranian media have reported the deaths of several members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in clashes with Islamic State forces, particularly in the city of Samarra. For instance, in the latest case, according to IRNA, Farhad Khosheh, a member of the IRGC, was killed on Sunday evening, March 1, in Samarra, Iraq. Iranian media also reported on January 7 that Reza Hosseini-Moghadam, the deputy of operational intelligence of the 5th Nasr Division, was killed in the fight against Islamic State forces near Samarra. Previously, on January 11, news of the death of an Iranian commander in Iraq named 'Mahdi Norouzi' from the 'Command Council of the Shahid Teymouri-Nia Basij Base in Kermanshah' was published in Samarra. On December 27, Hamid Taghavi, a senior commander of the Quds Force, was killed by a sniper from the Islamic State in Samarra. On Sunday, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran, in another part of his remarks, said: 'Tikrit is on the way to Mosul and is a main position for ISIS terrorists that must be evacuated and handed over to Iraq.' According to Tasnim News Agency, he added: 'First, Tikrit must be liberated, and then the areas to the left and right of Tikrit must be cleared of terrorists.' Intense fighting between the army and Shiite militia forces in Iraq with Islamic State forces near Tikrit continued on Sunday, and the resistance of ISIS forces has hindered the rapid advance of Iraqi forces in this city. Reports indicate that commanders and forces of the Quds Force, the external operations branch of the IRGC, are also participating in this operation. Meanwhile, Martin Dempsey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States Army, stated on Saturday, March 7, that although Iran is strengthening Shiite militias in Iraq, it is unclear whether the Islamic Republic is helping in the fight against the Islamic State or acting as an obstacle to it. Martin Dempsey had previously described Iran's support for Iraq in the battle against the Islamic State to drive ISIS out of Tikrit as 'positive', provided that this support does not 'ignite sectarian tensions'. John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, had also previously described the Islamic Republic's actions against the Islamic State as 'positive'.