Iraqi MP Qassem Al-Araji: We Want Help from Iran, Not U.S., in Our Fight against ISIS

In a recent TV interview, Shiite Iraqi MP Qassem Al-Araji said that Iran played "a major role in supporting our military forces," with Al-Qods Force Commander Qassem Suleimani supervising some of the battlefields. "America is the great Satan in the region," he said.

Following are excerpts from the interview, which aired on Russia Today TV on November 13, 2014.

Qassem Al-Araji: I believe that our battle [with ISIS] will be a long one, and that it requires more efforts. We need the support of friendly countries, rather than the support of the U.S.-led international coalition, as things stand today. America came to Iraq as part of a plan to defend Israel, and to carry out its plot in the region.

Interviewer: I gather that you do not consider the U.S. to be a friendly country.

Qassem Al-Araji: Indeed, the U.S. is not a friendly country. It will never be a friend of the peoples. It is a friend of the tyrants and the arrogant countries. It only acts according to its own interests. If the U.S. is serious about fighting ISIS, it should fight it in Europe. Why do so in Iraq and Syria?! The U.S. is trying to change the government in the region, to dismantle the armies, and to weaken and partition the countries.

[…]

I believe that the U.S. cannot be trusted. America is the great Satan in the region, and its only goal is to defend Israel and some of the regimes collaborating with it. The U.S., which left Iraq in 2011, following an Iraqi decision, did not abide by the security agreement it signed with us. It did not supply Iraq with weapons as part of the Pentagon's Foreign Ministry Sales. It continues to procrastinate with regard to the airplanes and the training of pilots. It is lying when it says that it gave weapons and ammunition to Iraq. It gives very little, and for an exorbitant price. Our friends in Iran have played a major role in supporting our military forces.

[…]

We are suspicious of the American intentions. The U.S. left Iraq through the door, but returned without asking for permission from the Iraqi government. […] Iran and its leader Khamenei have provided support for all Iraqis. They do this through the Iraqi government, through the defense and interior ministries. It is the Iraqi government that provides weapons to the Popular Mobilization [militias]. We are grateful for the significant role that Iran played and will continue to play. Indeed, Qassem Suleimani supervises some of the battlefields. He was present in Amerli, Jurf Al-Sakhr, Udhaim, Suleiman Bek, and other places. His presence is important for good management of the battle. […]