Leader of Islamic Ummah: American efforts underway to consolidate their foothold in Iraq

On Wednesday afternoon, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, accompanied by his delegation, held a meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, in Tehran.

Ayatollah Khamenei commended the significant initiatives implemented by Al Sudani aimed at enhancing prosperity and security in Iraq, stating, “A more prosperous and secure Iraq will be advantageous for the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

He highlighted the strong relationship between the Iraqi government and its citizens, emphasizing that unity, harmony, and cohesion among Iraq’s diverse religious and ethnic groups are crucial and of utmost importance.

The Leader emphasized the significance of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), also known as Hashd al-Shaabi, urging the prime minister to prioritize its maintenance and strengthening. The Leader stated, “The PMU is a critical element of Iraq’s power structure, and measures must be taken to bolster and fortify it to the greatest extent possible.”

During the meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei called on Iraq to firmly oppose the unauthorized presence of U.S. military forces within its borders.

The Leader has denounced the US military presence in Iraq as “illegal,” arguing that it opposes the interests of both the Iraqi people and government. He further asserted that there is circumstantial evidence suggesting that the United States is making efforts to entrench and extend its presence in the region.

In other statements, the Leader highlighted regional developments, with a particular focus on Syria, emphasizing the obvious involvement of foreign governments in these matters.

The Iraqi Prime Minister highlighted “the people,” the “Popular Mobilization Unit (PMU),” “national unity and cohesion,” and the religious authority “Marja” as fundamental pillars of strength in Iraq.

Al Sudani highlighted the actions of the Zionist regime in Gaza and Lebanon, underscoring Iraq’s steadfast support for the people of those regions and the resistance movements there.

He subsequently highlighted the situation in Syria, emphasizing the influence of foreign actors in these events. He stated that Iraq consistently upholds the stance of supporting the aspirations of the Syrian populace, maintaining the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and advocating for the establishment of an inclusive government.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani has embarked on an official visit to Tehran, where he is set to engage in discussions focused on bilateral relations, as well as pressing regional and international matters. The agenda prominently includes deliberations on the ongoing crisis in Syria.

Prime Minister al-Sudani touched down in Tehran on Wednesday morning, where he was received at Mehrabad Airport by Iran’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance, Abdolnaser Hemmati.

President Pezeshkian officially received the Iraqi prime minister at the Saadabad Cultural Complex in northern Tehran shortly thereafter.