Velayati Slams Foreign Interference in Iraqi Affairs

By Staff, Agencies

Ali Akbar Velayati, an international adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution, His Eminence Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei called for an end to foreign interference in the domestic affairs of Iraq at a meeting with the UN secretary-general’s special representative for Iraq.

In the meeting with the UN envoy Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, held in Tehran on Sunday, Velayati emphasized that the foreign countries must stop interfering in Iraq’s affairs and let the nation determine its own fate.

“The great nation and government of Iraq play a direct role in determining their own fate, because people of this country have deep-rooted culture,” Velayati said, adding Iran has “very extensive and brotherly” relations with Iraq.

He pointed to the upcoming “determining” parliamentary elections in Iraq and envisaged a “very bright future” for the Arab country’s people and government.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to provide any assistance and cooperation with the friendly and brotherly country of Iraq and, as in the past, we will stand by the Iraqi government and nation,” he added.

Velayati further said Iran has played a leading role in the fight against Daesh [the Arabic acronym for terrorist ‘ISIS/ISIL’ group], adding that the assassination of the top Iranian and Iraqi anti-terror commanders, Lt. General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, was a “wrong and terrorist move by the US.”

Hennis-Plasschaert, for her part, highlighted the significant role of the Iraqi people and religious leaders in determining the country’s fate and called for more unity in the country as well as free and democratic elections.