The visiting chairman of the Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) Sayyid Abdul Aziz al-Hakim met the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Tuesday, June 20.
Speaking at the meeting, the Leader referred to the significant role of the members of al-Kakim's family in Iraq and the great hardships and afflictions that they suffered under the Ba'thist regime of Saddam in that country. He also recalled the endeavors and struggles of martyred Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim, the brother of Sayyid Abdul Aziz al-Hakim.
As regards the role played by the Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq and its chairman in the developments taking place in Iraq for the past few years, Ayatollah Khamenei described this role as ‘quite wise and prudent'. He noted that the continuation of this course of action will promote the interests of the Iraqi people.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic expressed pleasure over the formation of a popular government and the establishment of legal institutions in Iraq. He stressed that the development of the present process in Iraq is one of the divine favors and among the great deeds in the history of that country.
Ayatollah Khamenei also praised the prudent role of the senior Ulema in Iraq and underlined the need to preserve unity and solidarity among various Iraqi ethnic and religious groups. He added that the existing security problems in Iraq will be solved only when the occupiers leave that county, and when the task of maintaining security is fully entrusted to the Iraqi government and nation.
Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, for his part, expressed his appreciation for the support extended by the Iranian government and nation to the Iraqi people, and he presented a report on the latest situation in Iraq.
The SCIRI chairman also told the Leader that despite all the economic and security problems, the Iraqi people are standing firm in various arenas, and that the massive participation of the Iraqi people in the recent general election indicated their remarkable political insight and their determination to seal their political fate themselves.
Describing as ‘cordial' the ties among various Iraqi ethnic and religious groups, Al-Hakim further said that despite all the problems, the 10 political stages involved in the formation of legal institutions and the establishment of government in Iraq have been taken successfully, and that the Iraqi government and parliament have now earnestly undertaken their tasks and responsibilities.