TEHRAN - The Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee has issued a statement condemning the recent terrorist attack on a church in Iraq and calling on the Iranian administration to help the country establish security.

The statement came in response to the attack on Our Lady of Deliverance church in Baghdad on Sunday, which left at least 52 people dead and 67 wounded.
The attack, which an Al-Qaeda-linked organization claimed responsibility for, was the deadliest against Iraq’s Christian minority since the U.S.-led occupation began in 2003. It chilled the hearts of the remaining members of the Iraqi Christian community, who have so far resisted the urge to flee from the war-torn country.
Since Iraq is one of Iran’s Islamic neighboring countries and its security situation affects Iran’s security situation, the administration should do its utmost to help Iraq reestablish security in the country, the statement said.
Given the fact that the parliamentary election in Iraq was held seven months ago, “the (potential) success of Iraq’s political parties and factions… in reaching a consensus over the prime ministerial post… was not to the liking of regional and extra-regional players, so (they) increased their… efforts to create insecurity in the country,” the parliamentary committee wrote.
However, the countries that seek to promote terrorism should be aware that terrorism has no geographical boundaries and it will probably affect other countries as well, the MPs added.
“We believe some of the foreign players involved in developments in Iraq have a strategic relationship with terrorism,” they noted.
Most of the regional countries, which are also Iraq’s neighbors, have held several meetings at different levels, and they know the establishment of security in Iraq would benefit the entire region and the world, and thus everyone should make efforts to help restore security in Iraq, the statement added.
The Majlis foreign policy committee also offered condolences to the Iraqi people and the country’s administration and parliament.