Khamenei says Iran strongly opposes US intervention in Iraq

Obama offers up to 300 Americans to help coordinate the fight against rapid advances by Sunni militant group.


Reuters June 22, 2014
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE

DUBAI: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed strong opposition on Sunday to intervention in Iraq by the United States or anyone else, saying Iraqis themselves could bring an end to violence there, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Khamenei, who has the last word on all matters of state, added in remarks to judiciary officials that Washington aimed to keep Iraq under its control and place its own stooges in power.

The conflict there was not sectarian, but was really between those who wanted Iraq in the US camp and those who sought Iraq's independence, IRNA reported. "We are strongly opposed to US and other (countries') intervention in Iraq," IRNA quoted Khamenei as saying.

"We don't approve of it, as we believe the Iraqi government, nation and religious authorities are capable of ending the sedition. And God willing, they will do so."

US President Barack Obama on June 19 offered up to 300 Americans to help coordinate the fight against rapid advances by the Sunni militant Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which has captured swatches of northern Iraq this month.

But he held off granting a request for air strikes from the Shia-led government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

"America is not pleased with the ongoing (political) process in Iraq, meaning the wide participation in the elections and selecting their own choice (of representatives), as the US is seeking an Iraq under its hegemony and ruled by its stooges," Khamenei was quoted as saying, referring to an Iraqi parliamentary election in April.

COMMENTS (2)

salman | 9 years ago | Reply

and they(Iran) themselves want to intervene into Iraq by sending their troops to protect a shia interest. How not so hypocrite of them. The only way to get Iraq stabilize is to have strong American air bombardment against ISIS targets else not only Iraq but entire region will get into official sectarian war. It was US who opened the door to this mess so the onus is also on them to try to neutralize the situation. Iraq and Syria is now a dirty battlefield between Saudia Arab and Iran.

unbelievable | 9 years ago | Reply

US is seeking an Iraq under its hegemony and ruled by its stooges . Seems to me the USA wants the PM to represent all Iranian's rather than just the Shia .. an admirable goal. And when it comes to "stooges" many consider Maliki a stooge of Iran which should take some responsibility for his policies of excluding Sunni and creating the current sectarian conflict.

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