The visiting Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and his accompanying delegation met the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Tuesday, November 28.
Speaking at the meeting, which was also attended by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Leader described the existing insecurity in Iraq as a cause of great concern. He stated that the continuation of insecurity and massacre of the Iraqi people is detrimental to all the regional countries, and that the Islamic Republic of Iran considers it its religious and human responsibility to help restore security in Iraq.
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran is desirous of a secure, developed and prosperous Iraq, and that its attitude toward security in the Iraqi cities is similar to its attitude toward security in the Iranian cities.
"In response to a request by the Iraqi government, Iran will spare no effort to help restore stability and security in Iraq," Ayatollah Khamenei told the Iraqi president.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic referred to the fact that the main objective pursued by the existing insecurity in Iraq is to destabilize the incumbent popular government in that country.
"Those who had certain plans for Iraq and whose plans have not materialized are now trying to destabilize that country, and their operatives are terrorists, excommunicatory elements and former Ba'thists," the Leader noted.
Ayatollah Khamenei also pointed out that those who are fomenting insecurity in Iraq are hiding behind the false claim that there is a conflict between the Shia and the Sunni. "But the fact of the matter is that the Shia and the Sunni have lived together in harmony for centuries without any hostility," he added.
The Leader further stated, "It is clear that U.S. policies are behind the present situation in Iraq, and these policies are being carried out through certain agents."
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the policies aimed at fomenting insecurity in Iraq as the cause of great suffering and tribulation for the Iraqi people. He noted that those behind these policies intend to bring a dictator like Saddam Hussein to power in Iraq, but he stressed that they will surely fail in achieving this goal.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader of the Islamic Republic stated that some regional agents of the United States have been tasked with implementing U.S. policies and fomenting insecurity in Iraq. He emphasized that supporting terrorists and creating insecurity and killing the innocent people in Iraq will prove very detrimental to both the U.S. agents and the entire region.
"Surely the United States will not succeed in Iraq, and continuing the occupation of Iraq will be a bitter pill for the United States to swallow," the Leader told the Iraqi president.
Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the first step toward solving the problem of insecurity in Iraq would be the occupiers' pulling out of that country and entrusting the security-related affairs to the Iraqi popular government.
Further in his statements, the Leader underlined the need to put into effect the agreements reached between Iran and Iraq. He added that the implementation of the agreements would set stage for further expansion of relations between the two countries.
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, for his part, expressed pleasure over his second visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and he described the expansion of Tehran-Baghdad relations as beneficial to both countries and also to the entire region.
The Iraqi president said that those that are behind the insecurity and the massacre of the innocent people in Iraq are the ones who are opposed to a new democratic Iraq with a popular government.
President Talabani further noted that Iraq's security dossier has not been entrusted to the Iraqi government.
"If the Iraqi government is tasked with preserving security in the country, it will be able to restore security in Iraq through the mobilization of popular forces," he pointed out.
The Iraqi president also expressed his gratitude for the assistance extended by the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Iraqi people at various stages.