Ayatollah Khamenei: US dreams on Iraq will not come true
Tehran, 2008 June 9, IRNA
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Monday that "We believe that the Iraqi nation through unity and perseverance will overcome hardships and attain their desired status and no doubt that the Americans' dreams will not come true."
Ayatollah Khamenei made the remark after receiving visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Tehran on Monday.
The Supreme Leader termed presence of occupation forces in Iraq as the root cause of existing problems in the country and underlined that Iran will spare no effort to assist the Iraqi government and nation, as a religious duty.
Ayatollah Khamenei also expressed the hope that the current visit of the Iraqi premier to Tehran would help consolidate ties between Iran and Iraq.
Referring to Maliki's speeches on various Iraqi ethnic and religious groups moving towards unity, the Supreme Leader said emergence of such a move in Iraq is a great success but such a unanimity of word has many opponents who are enemies of the Iraqi government and nation.
Presence of occupation forces, particularly the US troops are now regarded as the main threat to the country's unity, said the Supreme Leader, adding that the occupation forces who have employed all their military and security power to interfere in Iraq's internal affairs are now the main obstacle in the way of the Iraqi government and nation.
The role now being played by the US in Iraq is the same as the role played by Britain in causing differences in the country after Iraq attained its independence, Ayatollah Khamenei said, adding that the impudent Americans are a major obstacle to Iraq's unity.
All those who played active role in Iraq should find a way out of the current problem, said the Supreme Leader, adding that the Iraqi government, parliament and its officials have come to power thanks to the Iraqi people's support and therefore they should have the final say in handling the country's affairs as well as making their own decisions.
Attempts by a foreign element to gradually interfere in Iraq and expand its domination over the country's affairs is in fact the main hurdle to the Iraqi nation's progress and prosperity, said Ayatollah Khamenei.
The Iraqi premier, for his part, expressed satisfaction with his meeting with the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution and also thanked Iran for its unsparing efforts to help the Iraqi nation. He also said Iraq calls for promotion of ties and cooperation with Iran.
He also briefed the Supreme Leader on the latest developments in Iraq as well as the country's efforts to resolve its problems particularly in the field of security.
Although Major problems such as massacre of people in Iraq have significantly reduced the Iraqi government and its parliament are determined to retain the country's dignity and independence, Maliki said.
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