Iran Leader to Iraqi PM: Don’t Trust US

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has warned against placing trust in the United States, saying Washington is against Iraq’s independence and unity.

“Vigilance is required against the Americans and they should not be trusted at all because the US and its puppets oppose Iraq’s independence, identity and unity,” Ayatollah Khamenei said in a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Tehran on Tuesday.

The Leader hailed the unity and coherence among all Iraqi political and faith movements in their fight against Daesh terrorists and said the Popular Mobilization Units, commonly known by their Arabic name, Hashd al-Sha’abi, are important and a power element for the country.

Ayatollah Khamenei added that the US is against Hashd al-Sha’abi because “they [Americans] want Iraq to lose its key element of strength.”

“Do not trust the Americans at all because they seek an opportunity to strike their blow,” the Leader stated.

Ayatollah Khamenei warned that any emergence of division and conflict among Iraqis would pave the way for Washington to harm Iraq, stressing the importance of preventing the presence of US forces in Iraq under the pretext of training.

The Leader further emphasized that the US and some of its allies in the region do not seek the destruction and eradication of Daesh as the terrorist group has been created through their support.

They want to prolong the existence of Daesh in Iraq, Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated.

The Leader stressed the importance of safeguarding Iraq’s territorial integrity and said, “As a neighbor, the Islamic Republic of Iran is against certain murmurs about the holding of a referendum for the separation of a section of Iraq.”

Ayatollah Khamenei expressed hope that the Iraqi government would manage to solve the problems it faces and said, “The Iraqi government must be strengthened in every way and all political and faith movements in Iraq are duty-bound to support the sitting government.”

The Leader also said Iran and Iraq must further expand relations in various fields, urging the two sides to remove the obstacles in the way of bolstering their cooperation.

During the meeting, which was also attended by Iranian First Vice-President Es’haq Jahangiri, the Iraqi prime minister commended Iran’s support for his country in the fight against Daesh.

Abadi said all Iraqi political and religious groups are united in the battle against Daesh until its full eradication.

He added that Baghdad needs Tehran’s aid during the fight against Daesh and after the elimination of the Takfiris which is a time for Iraq’s stability, peace and construction.

Heading a delegation, Abadi arrived in Tehran on the second leg of a three-nation tour after a key trip to Saudi Arabia. At the end of his day-long stay in Tehran, the Iraqi premier will set off for Kuwait to meet with the country’s senior officials.

Fatemeh Askarieh

Fatemeh Askarieh is an Iranian journalist working on a range of fields including culture, art, lifestyle, cultural heritage, and tourism. She has been working with the Iran Front Page (IFP) Media Group for 10 years, and is currently the head of the Art and Lifestyle Department.