Iranian weapons delivered to Iraqi Kurdish forces

2014-08-26 217

Scenes of destruction... after a car bomb explodes in a mainly Shi'ite district of Baghdad, killing at least 12 people and injuring 28.

The bombing followed a series of blasts in the capital, Monday. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for one of them.

The militant group is attempting to destabilize Baghdad, but they are facing stronger opposition in the Kurdish north where they want to create their own Islamic caliphate.

But Kurdistan President, Massoud Barzani, says his forces are now receiving weapons and ammunition from Iran.

(SOUNDBITE) (KURDISH) MASSOUD BARZANI, PRESIDENT OF IRAQ'S KURDISTAN REGION , SAYING:

"We asked our friends to arm our forces and send us weapons, and the Islamic republic of Iran was the first country that provided us with the required weapons."

But Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, says that while Tehran will supply weapons... no Iranian troops will be deployed.

(SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) MOHAMMAD JAVAD Z