FEROCIOUS FANATICS

- Iraq is in a cobweb of chaos, and a civil war is going on in the country. What is happening cannot but disturb Iran, which shares a border with Iraq. How does Iran assess the blitzkrieg of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) Salafi group?

- To clarify the picture of the events in Iraq, it is necessary to return to the events of 20 years ago. Headed by Saddam Hussein and the Ba'ath party, Iraq emerged from the eight-year war with Iran as a strong state from a military-economic point of view. Saddam had complete control over the country. Everything changed after the US invasion and the execution of Saddam Hussein. The government of Nuri al-Maliki, which came to power as a result of elections, represents primarily the Shiites of this country. The US did not want Iraq's Sunni population, which was mostly pro-Saddam and led the fight against the US military, to participate in running the state. The US army suffered considerable losses during the fighting in the Sunni regions of Iraq. Iran always demanded the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. Tehran felt threatened by American troops near its borders. After the withdrawal of US troops, a power vacuum took shape in some regions of Iraq. This vacuum was filled by the opposition led by the Al-Nusra organization. This organization is closely associated with the Taliban and Al-Qa'eda. At some point, Al-Nusra militants concentrated forces and conducted military training. The organization became active after the "Arab Spring". Moreover, its members began active operations not in Iraq but in Syria. After Al-Nusra achieved some success against the Syrian army, it was renamed ISIS. That is to say the purpose of the organization is to capture the territory from Syria to Pakistan. ISIS consists of ferocious fanatics who commit atrocities against the civilian population in the territories under their control. These atrocities caused outrage even among local Iraqi Sunnis. In all regions they occupy Shiites are exterminated. They committed the same crimes in Syria. The US deliberately or unknowingly supported the ISIS in Syria. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait provided and still provide financial and military assistance to ISIS. As for the position of Iran, the Islamic government in Tehran, particularly the new President Rouhani, said that they are ready to provide military support to the Iraqi authorities in the fight against ISIS. And this support is provided. Iran, where the Shiite branch of Islam is the state ideology, regards ISIS as a particularly dangerous threat.

- In which case, will Iran send its troops to help Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki?

- Iran's state ideology differs from the European liberal-democratic ideology. The Shiite ideology includes the concept of "Islamic internationalism". Iran believes that all Shiites are brothers. This is akin to communist internationalism, which was promoted by the USSR.

In a situation where there is a threat to the life of Shiites in another country and the holy Iraqi Shiite cities are in danger, Iran can decide to send troops. For the time being, it is impossible to say with certainty whether Iran will send its troops to Iraq, but this option remains on the agenda of the government in Tehran. By the way, ISIS terrorists threaten not only the security of Iran and Iraq, but also other countries of the region, including the Azerbaijan Republic.

- In this case, Iraq is facing a great war between the two denominations within the same religion...

- This war is already underway. And the United States is interested in this war most of all. This is a war, into which you can draw Iran. The main purpose of ISIS is Iran, and here the interests of ISIS and the US are the same. Washington does not hide its gloating: "Iran wanted the Americans out of Iraq, okay - we are out, now let Tehran deal with international terrorism represented by ISIS."

- What is the attitude in Iran to the possible split of Iraq and the emergence of a new state of Kurdistan there?

- The state of Kurdistan in Iraq is a US project. The Barzani government is 100 per cent supported by the Americans. The plans of the US and Iraqi Kurds include the establishment of a state on the territory of Iraq, Syria and Iran, moreover, with subsequent expansion through the Armenians, who are closely related to Kurdish separatists. So far, neither Iran nor Turkey are active in Iraqi Kurdistan. This region of Iraq is entirely in the US sphere of influence.

- How did ISIS manage to advance to Mosul in such a short time? Is a blitzkrieg possible without the strong support of the Sunni population?

- ISIS formed from militant groups, in which mercenaries from different countries are fighting. In Afghanistan, these groups were defeated by the US army. Then they moved to Syria. In the occupied territories in Iraq, they established an order identical to the tyranny of the Taliban. Ordinary Iraqis have now realized what ISIS is.

- The United States has repeatedly stated that they are ready to fight ISIS together with Iran... 

- It is impossible. The US suffered heavy losses in Iraq. No matter how much al-Maliki asks, Washington will not return the army to Iraq under any circumstances. Washington's offer to Iran is a purely political manoeuvre, a favour. The problem of ISIS in Iraq is not a common problem for Iran and the United States. As former US President George W. Bush said, the "Greater Middle East" region is very unpredictable. In any case, in the near future we should expect the Iraqi army to launch a large-scale offensive on ISIS extremists.