Iraq urges global action against Islamic State, Iran vows solidarity

2014-08-24 12

Iran's Foreign Minister arrives in Baghdad.

Javad Zarif is in neighboring Iraq to discuss the security crisis there and efforts to eliminate the Islamic State.

The Sunni militants are taking whole swaths of the northern parts of the country under their control, and consider Shi'ites -- the majority in Iran -- infidels who deserve to be killed.

Zarif met with outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and the incoming Premiere, Haider al-Abadi, who said a regional and international effort is needed to destroy the Islamic State.

Zarif reaffirmed Tehran's support for Iraq's territorial unity and its fight against the militants.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, MOHAMMAD JAVAD ZARIF, SAYING:

"We are co-operating and working with various … with the Iraqi government and the Kurdish government in order to repel this very serious, atrocious group that is threatening not only Iraqi Kurds and Shia and Sunni, but also the entire Iraqi society