Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in a meeting with visiting head of the National Iraqi Alliance, Ammar Hakim, and the key members of the alliance in Tehran on Sunday, expressed satisfaction over the formation of the alliance among Iraq’s Shia groups. Describing the [formation of the] alliance as a major development, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei stressed the need to maintain and bolster the pillars of this unity and a paternal approach in addition to offering open arms to all political currents, ethnic groups and denominations in Iraq.
The Leader also congratulated his guests on the birthday anniversaries of Prophet of Islam (PBUH) and the sixth Shia Imam, Imam Sadeq (PBUH), and also felicitated them on the occasion of new victories won by Iraqi forces in their push to liberate the northern city of Mosul from Daesh terrorists. Ayatollah Khamenei noted that the head and main members as well as all those political currents that are part of the National Iraqi Alliance shoulder a very heavy duty, because any decision and action taken by them would affect “Iraq, the region, and Islam.” Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei then added, “Achieving the valuable goal of [forming a] national alliance is only possible through maintaining solidarity and unity [among all Iraqi groups], and care must be taken so that this process will continue.”
Ayatollah Khamenei mentioned supporting incumbent governments in Iraq as an important duty for the National Alliance and while expressing satisfaction over measures taken by the current administration of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, especially its support for Hashd al-Sha’bi [the Popular Mobilization Units], added, “Hashd al-Sha’bi, also known as Popular [Mobilization] Forces, is a huge asset and great reserve for the present and future Iraq, which must be supported and bolstered.”
The Leader stated that the issue of paying due attention to science and research was very important for Iraq’s progress and might, noting, “Shoring up universities and strengthening the pillars of science and research in Iraq must certainly receive serious attention, especially [taking into account the fact] that Americans and other enemies of the Iraqi nation, have killed a great number of the country’s scientists.”
In another important advice to the alliance of Shia groups in Iraq, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said, “Do not trust Americans at all.”
Ayatollah Khamenei added, “Americans are always opposed to the might of Islamic countries, including Iraq, and [Muslims] must never be deceived by their presences and smiles.”
Emphasizing that “not trusting America has been an unwavering recommendation of the Islamic Revolution to us,” the Leader of the Islamic Revolution pointed out, “Whenever we in the Islamic Iran heeded this recommendation, we were benefited [by it] and every time we neglected it, we found ourselves at loss.”
Explaining the issue of not trusting the United States, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution also pointed out that despite their outward claims, Americans have never been after eradicating the Takfiri terrorists and are trying to preserve part of these terrorists for their future purposes.
Ayatollah Khamenei added, “At present, [both] in Mosul and also in Syria, Americans are not willing to completely defeat the Takfiri terrorists.”
Referring to the sale of the Iraqi oil by Daesh, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said, at that juncture, Americans were merely watching the movement of oil tankers in tandem and did not target them; that’s why Americans must never be trusted.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution painted a much brighter and better future for Iraq than the country’s current conditions and noted, “The progress of Iraq is beneficial to the Islamic Republic of Iran and further coordination between the two countries also serves both sides.”
Ayatollah Khamenei wrapped up his remarks by thanking all people and officials of Iraq for having hosted and extended their hospitality to Arba’een pilgrims while describing the Arba’een march as a great and unique phenomenon.
At the beginning of the meeting, head of the National Iraqi Alliance, Hojjatoleslam Ammar Hakim, hailed the guidelines given by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic of Iran's support. Presenting a report on the process of forming the National Iraqi Alliance and measures taken so far, and while congratulating recent victories by Muslims in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, he added, “One of the important outcomes of forming the National Iraqi Alliance in Iraq has been the approval of the Hashd al-Sha’bi law” by the Iraqi parliament. He noted that in addition to drawing positive votes from its own representatives, the National Iraqi Alliance also managed to bring on board many other political currents and groups to get the bill passed.