The Office of the Supreme Leader

Supreme Leader Meets with Prime Minister of Iraq

Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, met Tuesday morning with Haider al-Abadi, Prime Minister of Iraq, and his accompanying delegation. Speaking at the meeting, His Eminence described the security, welfare, power and dignity of Iraq as very important.

He stated that Iran will offer complete support to Iraq, saying: "The current conditions of the region - including the conditions of Iraq - are the result of policies that non-regional powers and some regional countries adopted in Syria in an irresponsible way. We believe that the people and government of Iraq - particularly the youth of this country - have the capability to defeat terrorists and insure security. We believe that there is no need for the presence of foreigners in this country."

Expressing his congratulations to the people and government of Iraq on success in the great test of forming the government, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution said, "Iraq is a great, important and influential country in the region. If security is restored and things return to normal, it can really play an important role."

Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated: "We are with you and we will firmly support your administration the way we supported the previous one."

His Eminence described security as the first priority of Iraq, stating: "As we said before, we believe that the people and government of Iraq do not need foreigners and other countries in order to overcome security problems. The complex conditions of the region are such that the security of regional countries isinseparable. Besides, the Islamic Republic of Iran views the security of Iraq - as a brother to Iran and a neighboring country with which it enjoys vast interactions - as its own security. "

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed that the policy of preventing Iraqi soil from being used against Syria was a correct and intelligent policy. He reiterated: "The current conditions of the region - including the conditions of Iraq - is the result of policies that non-regional powers and some regional countries adopted in Syria in an irresponsible way and we should stand up against these policies in a decisive way."

Referring to the western claims about fighting against DAESH, Ayatollah Khamenei said: "We do not trust the honesty of those who made these claims and we believe that the issue of DAESH and terrorism should be resolved by regional countries."

His Eminence described the policy of the new administration in Iraq to achieve national, ethnic and tribal unity as a completely correct policy, further stressing: "Iraq is one geographical unit and the separation of Shia, Sunni, Arab and Kurd is meaningless in this country."

He mentioned: "The parties and tribes involved in Iraq should understand this issue and they should know that those actions which are taken against the national unity of Iraq are not to the benefit of this country."

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed that one of the advantages of the new administration in Iraq - like the previous one - is the formation of the government on the basis of the votes of the people and democracy. He reiterated: "Some people do not want to accept this truth in Iraq and the region, but this has happened and the government of Iraq should preserve this important achievement with complete power."

Haider al-Abadi also said: "We thank you for the very good positions you have adopted and we are grateful for the assistance provided by the Islamic Republic of Iran on the issue of DAESH and confronting the terrorists."

The Prime Minister of Iraq described DAESH and terrorism as a danger for the whole region, adding: "Unfortunately, some countries are not aware of the magnitude of this danger. We believe that with the wisdom of the two peoples of Iran and Iraq, with the support of ulama and with your guidance, we can pass through this stage and make the terrorists retreat."

Pointing to the efforts of some people to create discord between Shia and Sunni, al-Abadi said that the new government of Iraq is the government of national unity, further saying: "On this trip, we decided to strengthen the relations between the two countries in different arenas."
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