Describing this meeting as being one of the Supreme Leader’s most exceptional meetings, Dr. Velayati said, “Following the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, His Eminence has not held meetings with foreign officials. This was due to the necessity of observing the protocols and restrictions. However, due to the significance of this meeting and despite certain dangers stemming from the spread of the virus, the Supreme Leader met with him in person.”
He added, “This matter shows the significance the Islamic Republic of Iran accords to its relations with Iraq. His Eminence, who is in fact the leader and mentor behind important strategic moves in the area of foreign policy, organized this meeting to remind the Iranian and Iraqi nations, people of the region and people all over the world of the importance of the relations between the two countries.”
Dr. Velayati cited another reason for the significance of the recent meeting, “The election of Mr. Mustafa al-Kadhimi is the result of a consensus between the internal forces of Iraq. In Iraq, it is impossible for a person to hold the most important post and position in the government without a national consensus, and this is a very important point. After the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s dictatorial regime, Iraqi prime ministers have usually made their first trip to Iran. In the same way, Mr. Kadhimi’s first trip was to Iran. The trip attracted the attention of regional and international observers to a large extent. Therefore, it has proven to be an important meeting in terms of its form, its timing, its location and its content. In addition, in the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Mustafa al-Kadhimi addressed His Eminence with extreme respect, using the word “Leader” to refer to His Eminence. This is indicative of the unique status of the Supreme Leader among Iran’s allies in the region.”
Referring to the issues raised by the Supreme Leader in the meeting, Dr. Velayati stated, “The Supreme Leader said that the US is the biggest enemy of Iran and regional countries and that we must determine what we should do regarding this biggest enemy of regional countries. The Americans martyred the official guest of the people and government of Iraq – the great Martyr General Haj Qasem Soleimani – and his host, Martyr Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. This was the gravest crime committed by the Americans against Iran after the Revolution. Of course, before the victory of the Islamic Revolution too, the Americans committed various crimes against our nation, the most important of which was the coup d’état on the 28th of Mordad. This was a coup against the national government of Iran, which was masterminded to overthrow the national government and to install a puppet government. That was the gravest crime committed before the Revolution. The Americans were the main culprits behind the scenes and also openly during the massacre perpetrated on the 28th of Mordad and later, on the 15th of Khordad.”
The Supreme Leader’s advisor in international affairs added, “In the same vein, the Americans committed various other crimes, the most important of which was undoubtedly the martyrdom of the great General of Islam and Iran, the Martyr Haj Qasem Soleimani. That is why the Islamic Republic will not forget that crime and will take its revenge on the Americans. Another important point is that naturally Iraq will not forget about it either. The Iraqis feel deeply insulted. The independent and powerful government of Iraq was host to an official guest when that guest was martyred by the American occupiers; hence, the Iraqi government will not forget it either. Their first reaction, which was truly admirable, was the bill passed by the Iraqi parliament and based on the people’s request to expel the Americans from Iraq.”
Dr. Velayati also said, “This does not mean that Iran is interfering in the internal affairs of Iraq. The Islamic Republic will never interfere in the internal affairs of any country, including Iraq. The decision was made by the people of Iraq, as a result of which, the Iraqi parliament passed the bill to expel the Americans with a noticeable majority of votes. And by Allah’s favor, this will be carried out. Of course, we expect Iraq and their friendly, brotherly people to respond to the Americans’ act of murdering a guest and a host – the host being the very important Commander of Hashd al-Shaabi, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, and the guest being Haj Qasem Soleimani. Qasem Soleimani was a very valuable personage, and a great fighter in Iranian contemporary history. Without a doubt, the people of Iran will not forget about the Martyr Haj Qasem Soleimani’s blood, which was shed by the Americans.”
He further explained, “The Americans, who are the biggest enemies of Iran, have built a lair in the proximity of Iran’s borders and on Iraqi soil. This is very dangerous and naturally, there is the expectation that this sworn enemy be expelled from the sensitive areas close to Iran’s borders. By Allah’s favor, the Iraqi nation’s decision will be implemented, because we should not forget that their presence in Iraq is to the disadvantage of both the Iraqis and the Iranians.”
Referring to the depth of the relations between Iran and Iraq, the university professor from Shahid Beheshti University stressed, “There are few nations like Iran and Iraq with so many historic, religious and cultural similarities. Every year, 5,000,000 tourists and pilgrims travel between the two countries, which is unprecedented in the world and is a sign of the depth of our relations. Eight years of war were imposed by Saddam Hussein on the Iranian and Iraqi nations. But when the obstacle was removed, Saddam Hussein went to hell and the people of Iraq took their destiny in their own hands. Consequently, comings and goings between the countries started again and developed in such a way that the Iraqis in Iran and the Iranians in Iraq do not feel they had engaged in a war with each other that lasted for eight years. And actually, they really weren’t at war with each other. It was with Saddam Hussein’s dictatorial regime that the people of Iraq were fighting.”
Referring to the unity between the Iranian and Iraqi nations in fighting the DAESH, he said, “After that too, the people of Iran made the greatest sacrifice for the people of Iraq, which was natural. In the face of a Takfiri group, such as the DAESH, which had been built by regional and international powers and had committed many crimes against the people of Iraq, the Iranian and the Iraqi nations joined hands to fight and destroy that Takfiri group. This was a group that had been exported by the US and Saudi Arabia.”
He added, “As Iraq’s neighboring country and at the invitation of the people and government of Iraq, Iran dispatched its youth to fight alongside the Iraqi youth against that insane Takfiri government. Therefore, the blood of Iranian and Iraqi youth have intermingled, and there is no bond stronger than the bond forged from the blood of two nations.”
Dr. Velayati also discussed the role of Iraq’s other neighbors, saying, “On the other hand, some of Iraq’s neighboring countries have exported terrorists to that country for the last 15 or 16 years. As for the Americans, their claim to have fought against the DAESH is a false claim. In his presidential campaign, Trump told Mrs. Clinton, ‘When you were the Secretary of State, you created the DAESH and supported its establishment in Iraq.’ The truth is that the Americans created the DAESH, and some regional countries such as Saudi Arabia participated in its creation. This is an act of interference in the internal affairs of Iraq. However, Iran has not interfered in its affairs. Only when the national government and the people of Iraq invited Iran, the people and revolutionary forces of Iran rushed to help the Iraqi nation.”
The Supreme Leader’s advisor in international affairs stated that the exemplary and unprecedented relations between the two countries is completely natural, saying, “The point made by the Supreme Leader about taking revenge on the agents behinds the martyrdom of Haj Qasem Soleimani was a strategic and determining reminder on the regional and international scene. His point about Iran’s determination to take revenge is the beginning of a strategic procedure that will bring about positive developments for the future of the region to let the people of this region be in charge of their own destiny. In fact, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and the Resistance Front are the ones who will determine the future and the destiny of the region without the presence of the Americans, God willing. The Americans will pay for the crimes they have committed. Like the people of Iran, the people of Iraq will not forget about these crimes either.”
Referring to the issue of the Religious Authority (Marja’ Taqlid), Dr. Velayati emphasized, “A very important point that His Eminence has always stressed during his meetings with Iraqi officials in the past and in the present is the fact that the existence of Hazrat Grand Ayatollah Sistani is a great blessing in Iraq, whose value should be appreciated by all of us. He has played a big role in protecting the Iraqi people’s unity, solidarity and dignity, and in helping that country to progress on a daily basis. The Supreme Leader’s emphasis on obeying the commands of Grand Ayatollah Sistani is a policy that His Eminence has always upheld.”
The scholar from the University of Beheshti added, “At the time when Iraq had just been occupied by the Americans in the year 2003, they sent one of their representatives to Iraq as the US’s representative to rule over Iraq thinking that they could replicate English colonialism in India in the 19th century. However, they neglected the fact that the people of Iraq are a different people. They are a brave people with a rich, deep civilization, and they are very firm when it comes to preserving the independence of their country.”
He stated, “It was clear that the Iraqi nation would not accept Bremer, the representative of the transgressing US, as their ruler. That was why his reign ended quickly, and the people of Iraq were able to make him step down and abandon his rule. As a result, the representatives of the people of Iraq succeeded in taking control of the Iraqi government. The placement of Bremer was actually a symbolic act, which was reminiscent of the 19th century. With him, the Americans wanted to do what the English did in India in the 19th century. However, the courageous, intelligent, revolutionary people of Iraq did not allow it.”
At the end of his statements, Dr. Velayati discussed the position of Hashd al-Shaabi, “Hashd al-Shaabi is truly a blessing for the people of Iraq. The pious, revolutionary, patriotic youth of Iraq established this force in order to defend their country and its dignity, unity and solidarity even if it should cost them their lives. This is the outcome of the Iraqi’s thinking, and it indicates that Iraq has become the same Iraq that always played an important role in the history of Islam. In the history of Islam, Baghdad has been the politico-geographical capital of the world of Islam. It is potentially one of the strongest Arab countries. The Iraqis have all the necessary factors to form a strong, powerful, deep-rooted nation. They are a unique nation in terms of their spiritual and cultural values and also their blessings and capabilities.”