Imam Khamenei Released from Hospital: Iran Rejected US Request for Cooperation against ISIL

Local Editor

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution His Eminence Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei revealed that Tehran had an rejected a US request for cooperation against the ISIL early in its advance in Iraq and Syria.

"Right from the start, the United States asked through its ambassador in Iraq whether we could cooperate against "Daesh" [ISIL]," Imam Khamenei said in a statement on his official website.

He further stated "I said no, because they have dirty hands."

"Secretary of State [John Kerry] personally asked [Iranian counterpart] Mohammad Javad Zarif and he rejected the request," said His Eminence, who was leaving hospital after what doctors said was successful prostate surgery.

He accused Washington of seeking a "pretext to do in Iraq and Syria what it already does in Pakistan -bomb anywhere without authorization."
Imam Khamenei checked out of hospital on Monday morning, a week after his successful surgery.

The Iranian Supreme Leader went under a surgery at a public hospital in Tehran last Monday morning. A few hours later surgeons said the operation had been successful.

Former Health Minister Dr Alireza Marandi who is now a ranking member of the parliament's Health and Treatment Commission and also heads the Leader's medical team, said last week that like the other patients who undergone a similar operation, the Leader would be hospitalized for 3 to 5 days. "Then, he can return to normal life, but he should avoid a heavy working agenda for a few weeks," Dr. Marandi added.