Leader's aide: Foreigners must stop intervention in Iraq’s internal affairs
Ali Akbara Velayati, a senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says foreign countries must stop interfering in Iraq’s affairs and let the nation determine its own fate
The top official made the remarks in a Sunday meeting with the UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, during which the Iranian side stressed the need for foreign states to stop interfering in Iraq's internal affairs.
"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," the senior Iranian official said.
Velayati further said Iran has played a leading role in the fight against the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, adding that the assassination of the top Iranian and Iraqi anti-terror commanders, Lieutenant 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.