Ayatollah Hashemi-Shahroudi in meeting with Nouri al-Maliki:

‘Iraq must not rely on foreign powers’

Rasa – Earlier this week, Nouri al-Maliki arrived in Tehran on an official visit to Iran to meet with senior officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran. While there, he met with Grand Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi-Shahroudi.

News ID: 1617

Date: 13 November 2014 - 19:00

RNA – On Sunday, November 9, Nouri al-Maliki, the vice-president of Iraq, arrived in Tehran on an official visit to Iran to meet with senior officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in which he will seek to discuss mutual interests and develop the relationship between the two nations.

On Wednesday, he met with Grand Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi-Shahroudi while in Tehran. Ayatollah Hashemi-Shahroudi, an Iraqi-born member of Iran’s Guardian Council, called on Iraqi political parties to use their own wisdom and expertise and not to rely on the influence of foreign powers. He also warned al-Maliki to prevent the enemies’ abhorrent plots.

Ayatollah Hashemi-Shahroudi expressed his appreciation towards al-Maliki for his wise position of supporting the new Iraqi government and for his cooperation in its establishment.

He stated that Iraq should pave the ground to achieve victory over the enemies of Islam and preserve the unity of Iraq by relying on God and by walking in the footsteps of the scholars and the martyrs in jihad, sacrifice and unity.

Ayatollah Hashemi-Shahroudi stressed the need for the transformation of the political situation without the influence of foreign powers in Iraq, and said that victory and dignity will come from allying with the virtuous believers.

For his part, al-Maliki discussed the political, security and military situation in Iraq, and touched on the challenges facing the Iraqi government and the people in the fight against terrorist groups and Takfiri terrorists, as well as foreign and regional conspiracies.

He thanked the Islamic Republic of Iran for its support and expressed his hope to deal with the intrigues of the enemies and to maintain its achievements in regard to the unity and solidarity between political and popular groups.

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