Leader Voices Iran’s Strong Opposition to Foreign, US Meddling in Iraq

“We are vehemently opposed to interference by Americans and others in Iraq’s internal affairs and do not endorse it, because we believe the Iraqi government and nation and the country’s religious leadership (Marja) have the capability to end this sedition and will do that by the grace of God,” Ayatollah Khamenei said in a gathering of senior judicial authorities here in Tehran on Sunday.

Elaborating on the hostile plots hatched by the outsiders in Iraq, the Leader stated that “the Western hegemonic powers, specifically the United States of America regime” are seeking to take the advantage of a number of proxies’ “ignorance and bigotry” to carry out their plots in Iraq.

The main objective behind the recent incidents in Iraq, Ayatollah Khamenei explained, is to deprive the Iraqis of the whole things they have achieved in spite of the US presence and interference in their country, the most important of which has been democracy.

“The US is not satisfied with the ongoing process in Iraq, namely the holding of (parliamentary) election with a good turnout of people and the election of candidates whom the people trust,” the Leader stressed, noting that the US wants to maintain dominance in Iraq and see obedient leaders' rule in the Arab country.

As regards the violent incidents in Iraq, Ayatollah Khamenei made it clear that the unrest in that country, unlike what Americans say, is by no means a Shiite-Sunni sectarian war.

“What has taken place in Iraq is not a Shiite-Sunni war, but an attempt by the hegemonic powers to destabilize Iraq and threaten the country’s territorial integrity by using the remnants of Saddam regime as the main players and the bigoted Takfiri elements as infantry,” said Imam Khamenei.

In early June, following its large-scale offensives in Iraq, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) seized control of most parts of Mosul, the second most populous city in Iraq and its surrounding Nineveh province.

The terrorists’ attacks have reportedly forced more than half a million people in Nineveh Province to flee their homes.

Following Iraqi top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani’s religious decree (Fatwa) which called on Iraqis to take up arms against terrorists, nearly 1.5 million Iraqis have volunteered to join battles against the al-Qaeda-linked militants. The volunteers consist of people from all walks of life including retired officers.