Leader of Islamic Ummah and oppressed people Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei in a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi in Tehran on Wednesday evening underlined that Iran will continue its supports for Iraq, and called on Baghdad to continue its firm and tough confrontation against the Takfiri terrorists.
“The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran continues supporting the Iraqi government and nation as before,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.
The Supreme Leader underlined that the Iraqi nation and government’s resistance and stand against the terrorists will ensure the security of the regional countries, and said, “Bravery, determination and the power of the brave volunteer and popular forces in confronting the enemy are key features of the Iraqi people that became more evident in their fight against terrorists.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said the western spy agencies are seeking hard to break the Iraqis’ national and political unity and solidarity, and recalled that the British colonialists never wanted unity of the Iraqi people in a bid to loot their assets, but failed.
The Supreme Leader underlined that the Islamic Republic of Iran considers Iraq’s security and progress as its own, and said, “On the one hand, the Americans want to plunder Iraq’s wealth as they are doing in some regional Arab countries and, on the other hand they want to impose their aspirations (on the Iraqi nation) as in the past, but they should not be allowed to achieve their goals.”
Ayatollah Khamenei underlined the need for the Iraqi nation to keep vigilant and maintain political and national unity and solidarity, and said, “The huge capacity of the volunteer forces will prove to be very effective and influential for the future and progress of Iraq in different fields.”
The Iraqi prime minister, for his part, thanked Iran for its continued and all-out support for his country, and said, “The enemies of Iraq have concentrated their efforts on stirring ethnic and sectarian strife, but the Iraqi nation and government are resolved to confront this plot and maintain their national unity.”
Al-Abadi arrived in Tehran earlier today and was warmly welcomed by Iranian Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh at Mehrabad Airport.
While in Iran, the Iraqi prime minister is set to hold talks with several high-ranking Iranian officials and discuss regional and international developments as well as the ways to tackle the problem of terrorism.
Earlier today, Al-Abadi met Iranian Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri in Tehran. They underlined the two countries’ resolve for mutual cooperation in fighting Takfiri terrorist groups.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has always been beside the Iraqi nation and government and it will support peace, stability and progress of … Iraq by all means,” Jahangiri said.
He pointed to the presence of the ISIL terrorist group in Iraq and Syria, and said, “We should confront the terrorist and violent moves made by the terrorist groups in these two countries through mutual cooperation and by adopting a united stance.”
Jahangiri pointed to the status quo of the two countries’ relations, and said, “In view of its historical and cultural commonalities with Iraq, the Islamic Republic of Iran is looking for the expansion of all-out relations with that country.”
The Iranian vice-president reiterated that Tehran and Baghdad are determined to remove the obstacles to the further broadening of the bilateral relations between the two countries.
The Iraqi prime minister, for his part, pointed to his ongoing visit to Tehran as the second one in less than one year since he took office, and said, “My main goal in this visit is broadening the all-out ties between Baghdad and Tehran.”
Al-Abadi said that Iran and Iraq should form a united front for fighting terrorism.
The premier later met with President Rouhani, where the two top officials exchanged views over regional developments, specially the war on ISIL and explored avenues for growing cooperation between the two Muslim neighboring states.
