IRNA � First Vice President Es'haq Jahangiri said on Saturday that Iran acknowledges power of the Iraqi government to launch operation for Mosul liberation in parallel with management of major procession in Karbala and Najaf to mark Arbaeen.


Jahangiri made the remarks in a telephone conversation with the Iraqi Prime Minister Heydar al-Ebadi.

Jahangiri congratulated the great advances made by the Iraqi government troops and the popular forces against the terrorists, hoping that the clean-up operation to free the strategic city of Mosul will be accomplished to drive out the Takfiri terrorist groups.

Appreciating the Iraqi government and nation for generously hosting millions of pilgrims, he said that hosting of the pilgrims, especially Iranian pilgrims, for Arbaeen procession is praiseworthy.

Jahangiri welcomed the growing trend of Iran-Iraq ties.

Jahangiri said that Tehran-Baghdad relations have improved remarkably and hoped that their ties will serve as a role model for the other neighboring states.

Iraqi prime minister said in the phone conversation that Iraqi army, police and popular forces currently battling against the Takfiri groups and Iraqi army is directly engaged in Mosul military operation.

'Mosul is a big city of 1.5 million whose security is very significant for us,' al-Ebadi said.

Noting that Daesh terrorists are trying to use Mosul inhabitants as human shield, he added that Iraqi forces will continue their advances until the clean-up operation to drive out Daesh and Takfiris from Mosul.

Iraqi prime minister said that Mosul is the last stronghold of Daesh in Iraq and the Iraqi army and nation will gain victory against them.

He said that Mosul liberation operations and Arbaeen procession are going well in parallel indicating strong administration of the Iraqi government and army, making great endeavors to ensure security of the pilgrims coming from around the world.