Iran’s top security official said the United States is encouraging ISIS by dropping bombs on paramilitary fighters along the border with Iraq.
“America’s recent action strengthens and expands the activities of the terrorist Daesh (Islamic State) in the region,” said Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, during a visit to Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein.
The Thursday night air strikes, the first under President Biden, targeted locals on the Syrian side of the Iraq-Syria border, where Iran-backed groups control an important passage for arms, personnel and goods. The government said the aim was to prevent future attacks on American troops in Iraq.
“The attack on the anti-terrorist resistance forces is the beginning of a new round of organized terrorism,” said Hussein, Reuters reported.
Shamkhani said, “We are going to confront the US plan to revive terrorism in the region,” but gave no further details.
Shamkhani also pressured Hussein to have Iran tell the United States to withdraw the rest of its troops in the country, according to reports.