Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Supreme Leader: Iran fully supports popular Iraqi government

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mashhad, Aug 10, IRNA
Leader-Iraq-Maliki
Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told visiting Iraqi prime minister that the Islamic Republic of Iran fully supports the popular government of Iraq.

He said the presence of occupying forces is the biggest problem of Iraq and added that Iran has always been keen to see an independent Iraq with a popular government in its neighborhood and accordingly the present government in Iraq is fully supported by Iran.

During the meeting held in the holy city of Mashhad, the Leader expressed his satisfaction with the great dedication of the Iraqi authorities to solve problems and face threats. He added that Iraq is a rare Arab country in terms of intellectual and manpower and the efforts of the government to restore its natural position and use its resources to the benefit of the Iraqi people is a great and praiseworthy challenge.

Ayatollah Khamenei said unity among various Iraqi groups is the key to solving problems, calling unification among Sunnis and Shias, Arabs and Kurds and other Iraqi groups as a religious must which should be realized through cooperation with Maliki's government.

The Supreme Leader underlined the presence of occupying military forces as the gravest disaster in the neighboring country and said the occupiers pretend that Iraq would be destroyed if they leave the country while their withdrawal would in fact leave the field clean for Iraqi authorities to do their best to solve their problems.

He said the current problems and bloodshed in Iraq is due to the presence of occupying forces or their negligence of duty, noting that the US government interfere in military, political and security affairs through their embassy in Baghdad and also the Zionist and US intelligence services.

Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the US efforts to set up a puppet government in Iraq and said their policy in Iraq is doomed to failure and the final victory will be for the Iraqi people who care for their homeland problems.

The Supreme Leader highlighted the current religious jurisprudence in Iraq notably Ayatollah Sistani in Najaf as vigilant and attentive sources of religion and praised the latter's great service to the Iraqi nation. He said Iraq has a bright future and its enemies are more and more weakened.

During the meeting, attended also by First Vice President Parviz Davoudi and Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani, Maliki expressed his great satisfaction with the meeting and called it a historic visit for himself and accompanying delegation. He also praised Iran's support for Iraqi government and nation. Maliki said his government is determined to benefit from all political and ethnic groups in his country and said that Iraq should restore its dignity and independence. He said the Iraqi government tries to prepare the grounds for Iraqi people to make use of their material and intellectual resources.

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