Iraqi authorities say Baghdad is committed to a security agreement with Iran and that anti-Iran terrorists have been evacuated from the common borders and pushed back deep inside Iraqi soil as a deadline set by Tehran for their disarmament and relocation ends.
Thabet Muhammad Saeed al-Abbasi, Iraq’s defense minister, made the announcement in an interview with Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya on Tuesday and said the presence of Kurdish terrorist groups operating against Iran has been limited to five camps inside Iraq.
Pointing to the deployment of Iraqi military forces in the common borders with Iran, Abbasi said, “The terrorists were moved deep into the territory of Iraq.”
Last week, the Iranian foreign ministry said the September 19 deadline given to Iraq to disarm anti-Iran separatist groups based in the Arab country’s northern Kurdistan region would not be extended.
The ministry underlined that Iran would take matters into its own hands to ensure its own security if the deadline passes without any implementation of the security agreement reached back in March.
‘Terrorist groups were evacuated’
Meanwhile, a joint committee overseeing the agreement between Iran and Iraq confirmed the evacuation of terrorist groups in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.
The Supreme Committee for Implementing the Joint Security Agreement said in a statement, cited by Iraq’s Arabic news channel Alsumaria, that the headquarters “located near the border with Iran, which were occupied by terrorist groups, were evacuated… an transferred to a place far from the border.”
Stressing that the terrorist groups were “disarmed,” the statement said, “Federal border forces were also deployed in those areas and have a permanent presence and the Iraqi flag was raised there.”
“Border security is a shared responsibility between the two countries, and that this agreement should be the reference for resolving any dispute or violation that occurs,” the statement said, adding, “Dialogue is the safest way to resolve any problems or disagreements in order to enhance the distinguished and great relations.”
According to the statement, the representative of the secretary-general of the United Nations attended “the meeting held in Erbil and Baghdad and expressed full support for the Iraqi government in implementing the provisions of the agreement.”
Fuad Hussein, Iraq’s foreign minister, announced on Monday that Kurdish armed groups along the border with Iran had handed over their arms as the deadline drew near.
The top Iraqi diplomat reiterated his country’s commitment to the security agreement with Iran, saying the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has taken necessary measures in accordance with Baghdad’s agreement with Tehran.
Stressing that Iraq pursues peaceful approaches based on dialogue and respect for its neighbors, Hussein said Baghdad opposes any act of violence against its national sovereignty.
On March 19, Iran and Iraq signed a security agreement that includes coordination in protecting the border between the two countries in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.
Anti-Iranian terrorist groups residing in the Iraqi Kurdistan region have increased their malign activities, especially in border areas. Responding to the activities, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) launched several rounds of airstrikes against their positions since September 24 last year, vowing to continue the attacks till the groups are unarmed.
Iran has, on countless occasions, warned the Iraqi Kurdistan’s local authorities that it will not tolerate the presence and activity of terrorist groups along its northwestern borders, saying the country will give a decisive response should those areas become a hub of anti-Islamic Republic terrorists.
