In a meeting with Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Tehran on Thursday, Ayatollah Khamenei cautioned Baghdad against US plots, recommending that Iraqi officials should never trust the US.
“Americans themselves created Daesh, but now that the terrorists have been defeated by the Iraqi government and nation, they pretend to favor and support such a major development,” Imam Khamenei said, adding the US will “undoubtedly strike a blow to Iraq again” whenever it has the opportunity.
The Leader also hailed Iraq’s victory against the terrorists and their sponsors as a result of unity among various Iraqi ethnicities and of the Baghdad government’s support for the popular forces.
Describing Iraq as an influential and major country in the Arab world, Ayatollah Khamenei praised the Baghdad government for its efforts to safeguard the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Iraq.
Ayatollah Khamenei also voiced support for the expansion of Tehran-Baghdad relations in all fields.
The visiting Iraqi premier, for his part, expressed gratitude to Iran for supporting the Arab nation in the fight against terrorism, saying Baghdad embraces broader ties with Tehran.
Abadi also reaffirmed commitment to protecting Iraq’s unity and integrity, saying his government would not allow secessionist moves to threaten the country.
The Iraqi Kurdistan Region held an independence referendum on September 25, although all neighbors and countries in the Middle East, including Iran, voiced opposition to the vote and backed the Iraqi central government.
Iran has also remained a close ally of Iraq in the fight against Daesh that invaded the Arab country in summer 2014.