Major General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the IRGC Quds Force, says Iran does not seek materialistic interests in supporting Iraq and Syria

Speaking in a Sunday ceremony, General Soleimani highlighted the importance of the way Iran contributed to efforts aimed at tackling the crises in Iraq and Syria.

“When we went to Iraq to defend Iraqi people, we never drew a line between Iran’s interests and those of Iraq. We considered Iraqi people’s interests as our own. We worked to secure their victory, freedom and interdependence. Our interests lie in these things,” said General Soleimani.

“We were not after [taking control of] oil wells or seizing cities like Mosul or Kirkuk, as some other countries do. We did not and do not have monetary demands, either,” he added.

He noted that Iran has never sought to “secure a share” and ensure its own interests in Iraq and Syria.

According to a Farsi report by Basij Press, General Soleimani further noted that Iran enjoys real and impregnable power in the region today.

“I don’t think Iran has ever been as powerful in its history as it is now,” he said, adding this power has brought Shiites and Sunnis closer together.

The top general then highlighted the key role of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s wisdom in getting to know the circumstances and understanding the situation.

“ISIS had created a country which was larger than Iraq and Syria combined. The group called it the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant,” he said.

He then said Iran is located at the centre of the Muslim world, so that it can play a stabilizing role in the region, including in Syria.

He then touched upon the terrorist groups created and organized by Saudi Arabia, and added, “They set up 120 military structures against Iran in a bid to launch a religious war.”

“But no army can stand up to a [sectarian] military conflict,” he noted.

He said it was the “reality of religion,” and not military power, which managed to tackle the religious war.