Iran pledges help in Iraq's anti-terror efforts, backs "real" truce in Yemen

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani pledged on Wednesday to help Iraq in fighting terrorism, and supports a "real" truce in the conflict-torn country of Yemen.

The Iranian leader made the remarks at a joint press conference with the visiting Iraqi President Fuad Masum.

"The stability and security of Iraq is important for us, and we consider the security of Iraq as our own security," Rouhani said.

"As we have proved over the past months, we are ready to provide any assistance to Iraq in fighting terrorism and establishing security and stability in the country," he said.

The Iranian president warned against what he called "plots to divide" its neighboring state, adding that Iraq will never allow foreigners to make any decisions for them and for their country.

For his part, the Iraqi president said Iran's assistance to Iraq to counter Islamic State (IS) militants has been very valuable.

Iran sent weapons and humanitarian aid to Iraq from the very beginning when his country was engaged in the battle with the IS and he is grateful for Iran's help, Masum said.

IS is not only a threat to Iraq but to whole region, he said, urging the regional states to consider terrorism threats seriously.

Masum, accompanied by tourism, environment and trade ministers, arrived in Tehran, capital of Iran, on Tuesday at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart.

During his three-day trip, Masum will also hold talks with Iranian Majlis (parliament) Speaker Ali Larijani and Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani.

The relations between the two neighboring countries are "strategic." Iran is the first country which helped Iraq in fighting the terrorists of the Islamic State (IS), Masum told official IRNA news agency on Saturday.

"The economic, cultural and military cooperation between Iran and Iraq is at its highest level and we try to further boost the ties," he was quoted as saying.

In February, Iran's First Vice President Es'haq Jahangiri said Iran was resolved to play a "pivotal role" in the reconstruction of Iraq, providing Baghdad with its experiences in construction, science, technology and other fields.

Iran has forged close ties with Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Also at the press conference, the Iranian president said his country supports a "real truce, a truce in action not just in words" for Yemen.

According to local medical sources, up to 100 people were killed in Monday's Saudi-led air strikes on missiles warehouse and arms depots in Yemen's capital city of Sanaa.

The air raids came only hours before a planned five-day humanitarian cease-fire.

Rouhani also said the issue of Yemen has turned into a humanitarian subject for the region and for the world, and the people in the country are in dire need of food, medicine and medical aid.

On Monday, Iran sent a aid ship, containing 2,500 tons of food supplies and medicine, to Yemen.

A senior Iranian commander has warned against any attempt to target Iran's aid ship, saying that attacking the ship will start a war in the region, Press TV reported.

Saudi Arabia, the United States, and their allies should refrain from blocking Iran's humanitarian aid to Yemen, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iran's Armed Forces Brigadier General Masoud Jazayeri was quoted as saying by Press TV. Endit