Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, met with Hujjatul-Islam Ammar al-Hakim, the head of the National Shia Alliance of Iraq and leading members of this alliance.
Expressing his joy at the formation of a national alliance among the Shias of Iraq, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution described this event as an important one and stressed the necessity of preserving and strengthening the bases of unity, of having a fatherly approach and of opening one’s arms to all orientations, ethnicities and denominations in Iraq.
Expressing his congratulations on the birthday anniversary of the Holy Prophet of Islam (greetings be upon him and his household) and Imam Sadiq (a.s.) and also on the victories in the city of Mosul, Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the responsibility of the head and the members of the national alliance and on all other orientations associated with it is very heavy and that any decision that it makes influences Iraq, the region and Islam. He added: “Achieving the valuable goals of the national alliance is only possible by preserving unity and solidarity. Serious attention should be paid in order to continue this issue.”
His Eminence stated that one of the important responsibilities of the national alliance is supporting the administrations that are working in Iraq. Expressing his joy at the measures adopted by the current Ebadi administration – particularly its support of the Popular Mobilization Forces – he said: “Al-Hashd al-Sha’abi or the popular forces of Iraq is a massive source of wealth and a great provision for Iraq in the present time and in the future and therefore, it should be supported and strengthened.”
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution mentioned that the issue of science and research is very important for the progress and power of Iraq, saying: “Strengthening universities and empowering the bases of science and research in Iraq should receive serious attention particularly because the Americans and other enemies of the Iraqi nation have assassinated many scientists of that country.”
Offering a word of advice to the national alliance, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “You should never trust the Americans in any way.”
His Eminence added: “The Americans have always been opposed to Islamic countries – including Iraq – becoming powerful. We should never be deceived by their outward appearance and their smiles.”
He stressed that the Islamic Revolution has always advised the people of Iran to avoid trusting America: “Whenever we in the Islamic Republic of Iran listened to this word of advice, we profited and whenever we forgot it, we suffered a loss.”
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution reiterated that unlike their outward claims, the Americans are not at all after uprooting takfiri terrorists and that on the contrary, they are trying to preserve some of those terrorists for their future goals.
Ayatollah Khamenei added: “In the present time, the Americans are not willing to witness the complete defeat of takfiri terrorists in Mosul and in Syria.”
His Eminence stated that the Americans have been selling Iraq’s oil through DAESH: “At that time, the Americans were merely watching the movement of columns of oil tankers and they did not target them. Therefore, the Americans should not be trusted.”
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution described the future of Iraq as much brighter and better than its present-day conditions and stressed: “The progress of Iraq is to the advantage of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Similarly, increasing cooperation between the two countries is to the advantage of both sides.”
At the end of his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei thanked the people and officials of Iraq for hosting and showing hospitability to the Arbaeen pilgrims and described the Arbaeen gathering as a great and unique phenomenon.
Thanking the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution for his recommendations and the Islamic Republic of Iran for its supports, Hujjatul-Islam Hakim delivered a report about the formation of the National Shia Alliance of Iraq and said: “One of the important results of the national alliance in Iraq was passing the Hashd al-Sha’abi law. As well as the positive votes of the members of the alliance, this alliance managed to win the support of many representatives of other orientations and groups.”