In a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and his accompanying delegation this evening (Tuesday), Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei hailed the unity and coherence of all Iraqi political and faith currents in the fight against Daesh and described “Popular Mobilization Units” as an important, propitious phenomenon and an element of power in Iraq. The Leader highlighted the need for safeguarding Iraq’s territorial integrity and said, “Vigilance is required against the Americans and they should by no means be trusted, because the US and its stooges are against ‘Iraq’s independence, identity and unity’.”  
Pointing to the advance of Daesh forces to the proximity of Baghdad at a certain time, the Leader reiterated, “Daesh is now fleeing and leaving Iraq and this admirable success is the result of the internal coherence and unity in Iraq and also the correct policy of the Iraqi government in trusting the young and faithful Iraqi forces and their presence at the heart of the battlefield.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution touched upon the opposition of the US and its stooges to the popular forces known as “Hashd al-Sha'abi” and added, “The opposition of the Americans against the popular forces is due to fact that they want Iraq to lose the key element of its might.” 
Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated, “Under no circumstances trust the Americans, because they are waiting for an opportunity to strike their blow.” 
The Leader described the emergence of division and conflict in Iraq as the opportunity the US is looking for to inflict damage and said, “They must not be given this chance; furthermore, US forces must be prevented from entering Iraq under the pretext of training and other issues.” 
Stressing that the US opposition to Daesh is not genuine, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution reiterated, “The Americans and some of their client states in the region are not after destroying and uprooting Daesh, because Daesh has emerged with their support and funds and they favor a Daesh that is under their thumb to remain in Iraq.”
Commending the advance of the Iraqi forces to the Syrian border, Ayatollah Khamenei described it as a major and strategic move and underscored the need to preserve it. 
Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to the need for safeguarding the territorial integrity of Iraq and said, “As a neighbor, the Islamic Republic of Iran is against some murmurs about the holding of a referendum for the separation of a section of Iraq and believes those fueling this issue to be against the independence and identity of Iraq.”  
Pointing to the “Iraq’s material, human and historical richness,” the Leader of the Islamic Revolution reiterated, “With such historical, cultural and human roots and civilization, Iraq must remain integrated and such a country is entitled to stand on its own feet and strongly counter those who are after clashing with Iraq.”    
Expressing optimism about the prevalence of the Iraqi government over problems and hope for a better future for the Iraqi nation, Ayatollah Khamenei added, “The Iraqi government must be strengthened in every way and all political and faith currents in the country are duty-bound to support the sitting government.”   
Regarding the bilateral ties between Iraq and Iran and stressing the need for the evermore expansion of ties in various fields, the Leader said, “The few administrative problems present in the path of the development of ties must be seen off and the level of cooperation must be promoted as much as possible.”
In the meeting, which was also attended by First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri, the Iraqi Prime Minister appreciated the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the fight against Daesh and described the purpose of his meeting as talks for the further development of ties between the two countries in various sectors, saying, “Today, Iraq is coherent and united in the fight against Daesh and all political and faith currents unanimously agree on the need to continue the fight against Daesh until it is eradicated.”   
Mr. Abadi described the destruction of Daesh as achievable and stressing the need for the continuation of Iran’s support, added, “We need the help and assistance of the Islamic Republic of Iran during the period of the fight against Daesh and also in the era after Daesh, which will be a period for stability, peace and construction.” 
The Iraqi prime minister pointed to the historical and cultural roots of the relations between the Iraqi and Iranian nations and stressed, “We are after expanding ties with Iran in all areas such as offering services to Iranian pilgrims visiting Iraq’s holy shrines and consider it our honor to serve Iranian pilgrims.”