Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (PHOTO REUTERS)
TEHRAN, IRAN: Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said "enemies" were trying to drive a wedge between Tehran and Baghdad in a tweet on Monday following deadly unrest in neighbouring Iraq.
"#Iran and #Iraq are two nations whose hearts & souls are tied together... Enemies seek to sow discord but they've failed & their conspiracy won't be effective," Khamenei was quoted as saying on his office's Twitter account.
#Iran and #Iraq are two nations whose hearts & souls are tied together through faith in God & love for #ImamHussain & the progeny of the Prophet (pbut). This bond will grow stronger day by day.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) October 6, 2019
Enemies seek to sow discord but they’ve failed & their conspiracy won’t be effective. https://t.co/Psya7CJGLB
Explainer: Deadly civil unrest - what is happening in Iraq?
State news agency IRNA said the supreme leader was reacting to recent violence in Iraq.
More than 100 people have been killed in Iraq since clashes erupted last week between protesters and security forces, the majority of them demonstrators struck by bullets.
The Iraqi authorities have accused "saboteurs" and unidentified snipers of targeting the protesters.
Iran has urged its citizens planning to take part in a major sectarian pilgrimage in Iraq to delay their travel into the country over the violence.
UN says 'this must stop' after Iraqi protest violence kills nearly 100
Tehran has close but complicated ties with Baghdad, with significant influence among its sectarian political groups.
The two countries fought a bloody war from 1980 to 1988 and Iran's influence in the country grew after the United States-led invasion of Iraq toppled veteran dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003.
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