Imam Khamenei: U.S. opposes democracy, political activism in Iraq

AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Mr. Adil Abdul-Mahdi, the Iraqi Prime Minister, and his entourage met with the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei, on Saturday, April 6, 2019.

In this meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out to the ideological, cultural and historical convergence among the Iranian and Iraqi nation and stressed: The relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq is beyond simple ties between two neighboring countries and the Iranian nation and state consider the progress and prosperity of the Iraqi nation as part of their own interests; however, the U.S. officials—contrary to their verbal remarks—assume the democracy and the current assembly of political activists in Iraq as detrimental to themselves. Therefore the Iraqi government should take actions so that U.S. troops will leave Iraq as soon as possible.

Appreciating the wise and plausible positions taken by Mr. Adil Abdul-Mahdi with respect to the matters in Iraq and the region, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to human capacities of Iraq and held: Among [numerous] human resources of Iraq are its youth who proved their potentials in countering the ISIS sedition; and that was a historic achievement.

Ayatollah Khamenei also called the scientists and scholars of Iraq as another asset of Iraq and went on to say: At the early periods of its presence in Iraq, the U.S. assassinated many of the Iraqi scientists; because they understood the importance of this valuable asset.

Emphasizing on the fact that human assets and rich mineral resources in Iraq will make this country the most influential country of the Arab world, his Eminence stated: The U.S. officials and their cohorts in the region are against the current democratic establishment in Iraq as well as the officials and the chief leaders and regard them as offensive to their own interests.

Stressing that if the Iraqi government and officials followed the U.S., the U.S. would have no problems with Iraq, he added: The current government and parliament in Iraq and the political figures are not what the U.S. desires; as a result, they plot for removing them from the political scene of Iraq.

The Supreme Leader mentioned that what the U.S. and Saudi officials say in words about Iraq contradict their real intentions and held: At a time when the ISIS occupied Mosul, they provided the terrorists with money, arms and equipment; and now that Iraq has defeated ISIS, they pretend they seek friendship with Iraq.

Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the remarks of the Iraqi Prime Minister about the remainder of ISIS in Iraq and maintained: Comprehensive awareness is required; because if they notice the slightest weakness in the Iraqi government and nation, they will start to commit crimes again.

The Leader of the Revolution regarded the U.S.’s military presence in the countries of the region as detrimental to the countries and the nations and addressed the Iraqi Prime Minister by stressing that: “You should take necessary measures so that the U.S. will withdraw its troops from Iraq as soon as possible; because in any country where U.S. maintained an enduring military presence, the process of expelling them became more complicated and problematic.

His Eminence further asserted that the U.S.’s goals go beyond mere military presence, and said: They seek long-term presence and interests as well as forming a government like the military states that were created during the early times of the occupation of Iraq.

Ayatollah Khamenei went on to refer to the influence of scientific advances on Iraq’s development and added: Based on experience, I believe scientific progress in Iraq will pave the ground for permanent security in various areas.

The Supreme Leader finally described increased relation with marja’iyah [the clergy] as useful and effective.

While meeting with the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Mr. Adil Abdul-Mahdi— the Iraqi Prime Minister—expressed his gratitude for this meeting and held: the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation have always been with the Iraqi government and nation in difficult times, the most recent case being Iraq’s victory over the ISIS which was realized with the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Prime Minister of Iraq stressed that despite the defeating of ISIS, its elements are still present in Iraq and added: Nevertheless, today the Iraqi people live in a secure and stable situation.

Referring to President Hassan Rouhani’s recent trip to Baghdad as well as today’s meetings in Tehran, Mr. Abdul-Mahdi proclaimed: As a result of the negotiations, we have reached good agreements [with our Iranian counterparts] for building railways, establishing industrial parks, developing commercial relations, transportation, and dredging Arvand.

The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mr. Adil Abdul-Mahdi, concluded: The relation between Iraq and the Islamic Republic of Iran is special and we have announced that we will never join the U.S.’s sanctions against Iran.

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