MOSCOW, December 9 (Sputnik) – Iran’s deputy foreign minister Ebrahim Rahimpour said he was misquoted by news agencies, after reports became widespread that Iran had launched air strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants last week, AFP reports.
“My comments were misinterpreted,” Rahimpour told AFP.
He said he meant Iran could provide military assistance to Iraq, if the Iraqi government asked for it, AFP said.
A few days ago, a number of news outlets, including Reuters and Associated Press, reported that Iran had carried out airstrikes in neighboring Iraq to stop the advancing IS fighters.
Iran confirms air strikes in Iraq against Islamic State: Guardian newspaper http://t.co/CqIiDFmJBt
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) 6 декабря 2014
Iran was not invited to join a US-led military coalition that is fighting against the IS in Iraq and Syria. Although some rumors about the presence of Iranian troops in Iraq are circulating in the media, Iran has consistently denied having its troops in Iraq.
Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said he was not aware of any Iranian airstrikes in his country, AFP said.
