Iran, Iraq Solidarity Augurs Deliverance of Region from U.S. & Agents

By: Kayhan Int’l 

The fast changing situation of the region is a clear indication of the rapid decline of the vested interests of the U.S. and its regional comrades-in-crimes against the Ummah at large, and the Muslims of West Asia in particular.
First was the failure of the Americans and their agents in Syria and Iraq – countries which they had tried to destabilize and plotted to turn into a large Takfiristan stretching from the headwaters of the Persian Gulf to the Levantine shore of the Mediterranean Sea.
Thanks to the wise policies of Iran and the farsightedness of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, the Wahhabi-Zionist dream of overthrowing the legitimate governments in Damascus and Baghdad and installing American puppets in the two capitals turned into nightmares.
Washington then tried to pose as a friend of Iraq despite having dropped crates of weapons to the Daesh terrorists by pretending to carry out sorties against them.
The emergence of the Hashd ash-Sha’bi or the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) and their restoration of stability to Iraq, in coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, made Uncle Sam’s calculations go awry.
These events rang alarm bells in Riyadh and made the heretical Wahhabi regime to impose a war on Yemen, on the orders of the U.S. on the assumption of routing the popular Ansarallah Movement and taking over the region’s poorest country.
Soon, however, the seditious Saudis became bogged down in the quagmire of their own making, and in spite of the billions of dollars of weapons bought from the U.S. were gradually pushed on the defensive.
Meanwhile, Trump was propelled to the White House and immediately bared his fangs at not just the Islamic Republic of Iran, but at all movements in West Asia inspired by the epic uprising in Karbala of Imam Husain (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).
The dotard launched a campaign of economic terrorism against Iran, and egged by the Zionists, began to rave and rant against the Palestinian Islamic groups such as Hamas, the Ansarallah of Yemen, and Lebanon’s legendary anti-terrorist movement, the Hezbollah.
He thought that be tweeting threats against Iran and flexing the old and aching military muscles of the U.S. in and around the Persian Gulf, would bring the Islamic Republic to his knees.
The timely downing of the world’s most sophisticated and expensive drone by the ever vigilant defenders of Iran, came as a rude shock to this habitual liar, who seems to have realized that it is suicide to pick up a fight with either Iran or its allies – whether in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen.
At the same time, the American propaganda of driving a wedge between Iraq and Iran miserably failed, and to Washington’s shock, the two countries and their people have come closer in every field ranging from industries and culture, to politics and religion.
In the meantime, the Yemenis have proved the sheer weakness of the American-supplied defence system of Saudi Arabia, with the rapidly increasing power of their drones and missiles.
This means the regime in Riyadh is living on borrowed time, similar to the precarious existence of the Aal-e Khalifa pirate regime in Bahrain, as well as the illegitimate Zionists in the usurped land of Palestine.
To sum up, the emerging solidarity between Iran and Iraq, with Syria and Lebanon, as integral parts of the indomitable Resistance Front, the time is not far cleansing of the whole region of the illegal presence CENTCOM terrorists.

Make Sure U.S. Leaves Iraq As Soon As Possible

:Ayatollah Khamenei Tells PM Abdul-Mahdi

Kayhan Int’l

TEHRAN – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei told Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi here Saturday that the U.S. is pursuing goals other than a military presence in the Arab country.
"The Americans seek a long-term presence and are after forming a government similar to military regimes in the early days of Iraq’s occupation,” the Leader said.
"Unlike their rhetoric, the Americans consider democracy and the current political system in Iraq against their interests, and hence, the Iraqi government must make sure that U.S. troops leave Iraq as soon as possible,” he added.
Ayatollah Khamenei said like the Americans, Saudi Arabia is also following ulterior motives in Iraq.
"They were sending money and weapons for Daesh when it occupied Mosul and now that Iraq has defeated Daesh, they (U.S .and Saudi Arabia) are expressing friendship.”
The Leader lauded relations between Baghdad and Tehran, saying the Iranian government and nation deem progress and felicity of Iraq as their own.
Prime Minister Abdul-Mahdi said Iran has always stood by the Iraqis in hard times, the last of which was during the Arab country’s battle with Daesh terrorists.
The premier touched on his talks with President Rouhani, saying good agreements were reached in the areas of railway construction, establishment of industrial towns, development of commercial relations, transportation and dredging of the Arvand river.
"Iraq's relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran are special and we have announced that we will never join the U.S. sanctions against Iran,” Abdul-Mahdi said.
Earlier, President Hassan Rouhani called for Iran and neighboring Iraq to expand their gas and electricity dealings and boost bilateral trade to $20 billion despite difficulties caused by U.S. sanctions against Tehran.
"The plans to export electricity and gas and hopefully oil continue and we are ready to expand these contacts not only for the two countries but also for other countries in the region,” Rouhani said after a meeting with Abdul-Mahdi.
In March, the United States granted Iraq a 90-day waiver exempting it from sanctions to buy energy from Iran, the latest extension allowing Baghdad to keep purchasing electricity from its neighbor.
"We hope that our plans to expand trade volume to $20 billion will be realized within the news few months or years,” Rouhani said.
Rouhani expressed hope that work on building a railway linking the two countries, would begin within the next few months.
The railway project was part of deals reached during Rouhani’s March visit to Baghdad, meant to underline that Tehran still plays a dominant role in Iraq despite U.S. efforts to isolate Iran.
The Iraqi prime minister’s visit comes right on the heels of President Hassan Rouhani's trip to Baghdad last month and the two neighbors' pledge to boost the already flowering trade to $20 billion in two years from $12 billion today.
Along with ministers of commerce, foreign affairs, planning, transportation, health and energy, a number of Iraqi parliamentarians as well as 30 representatives of the private sector are accompanying the Iraqi premier.
Abdul-Mahdi said Iran has played a leading role in fighting terrorism and promotion of peace and stability in Iraq as he called for further development of mutual relations.
Enhanced economic, security, trade and oil cooperation will lead to good achievements not only for Iran and Iraq but also for the entire world, he said.
The Iraqi premier also stressed the importance of promoting peace in the Middle East and solving the Yemeni crisis through political means, saying Iraq is firm on countering any threat by any country against Iran.
With a 1,400-kilometer-long joint border, Iraq has turned into a strategic ally and an important trade partner for Iran in recent years.
Iraq's huge energy reserves and a large, diverse market bestow it a special place in the economic equations of the region.
Until two years ago, Iran was Iraq's third biggest trade partner after Turkey and China, but it vaulted to the top place last year with a record $9 billion worth of exports.
Iraq relies on Iranian gas imports to generate as much as 45 percent of its 14,000 megawatts of electricity consumed daily in addition to another 1,000 megawatts imported directly from Iran.
For their run-of-the-mill sustenance, Iraqis also depend on Iran for everything from food to machinery, fruits and vegetables.
A remarkable feature of this close relationship is that much of the blossoming has occurred either in the run-up or after the reimposition of draconian U.S. sanctions on Iran.
Iraq is pushing back on U.S. pressures in what has become a major point of conflict between Washington and Baghdad, the New York Times reported in February.
Observers say the increasingly powerful and mutually beneficial relations between Iran and Iraq will make it all but impossible for the White House to keep the two neighbors apart.
Iraq's President Barham Salih has stressed that his country would not be part of a regime of unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States against Iran.
"There is no doubt that we will be affected by these sanctions, but it is certain that we will not be part of them,” he said last month.
Prime Minister Abdul-Mahdi's visit to Iran also comes after a Saudi delegation traveled to Baghdad to reopen the kingdom's consulate in Iraq.
Saudi Minister of Trade Majid bin Abdullah al-Qasabi led a business delegation to Iraq as part of efforts to enhance ties between the two nations.
Riyadh has viewed Iraq's proximity to Iran with enmity. This is while Iraqi leaders have repeatedly praised Iran's role in helping the Arab country confront the Takfiri menace.
Iraqi officials have frequently accused Saudi Arabia of aiding and abetting the Daesh terrorist group, which was largely defeated in Iraq and Syria in late 2017.

Rouhani meets Grand Ayatollah Sistani in Najaf

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday met with Iraq’s top Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, in the holy city of Najaf on the last day of his historic visit to neighboring Iraq.

During the meeting, Rouhani briefed Ayatollah Sistani about the outcomes of his meetings with senior Iraqi officials.

He said his trip was aimed at expanding bilateral ties based on “friendship” and “good neighborliness”, Fars reported.

Ayatollah Sistani welcomed any step toward expansion of Iraq’s ties with its neighbors based on mutual interests, respect for the sovereignty and not interfering in the internal affairs of one another.

The ayatollah also pointed to the Iraqi people’s sacrifices in fighting Daesh (ISIL) and appreciated the role that Iraq’s friends played in defeating the terrorist group.

Sistani also underlined the necessity of adopting a “moderate approach” in dealing with regional issues.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Tehran’s Ambassador to Baghdad Iraj Masjedi were also present at the meeting.

Rouhani is the first Iranian president ever to have met with Ayatollah Sistani, who is considered Iraq’s most influential religious figure.

It was one of the highlights of President Rouhani’s Iraq trip, as Ayatollah Sistani usually do not agree to meet with top political figures – even those of his own country.

Sistani seldom makes public speeches and have not done interviews with media outlets. His views and statements are officially published through his representatives.

His fatwas have significantly contributed to shaping Iraq’s political structure.

In June 2014, when Daesh unleashed its campaign of terror and destruction in Iraq, Ayatollah Sistani called on his followers to rush to the national army’s help in the fight against the terrorist group.

The fatwa helped bring together Shia fighters, Sunni tribesmen as well as Christian and Izadi volunteers under the umbrella of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), commonly known as Hashd al-Sha’abi, to reverse Daesh’s gains and ultimately end the terror group’s territorial rule in Iraq in late 2017.

Rouhani’s meeting with Sistani is also considered to be a foundation for further expansion of ties between Iran and Iraq.

The president, upon his arrival to Najaf on Wednesday morning, also visited the holy shrine of Imam Ali (PBUH), the first Imam of Shia Muslims.

Time to Shove Off American Occupiers From Iraq

By: Kayhan Int’l 

Now that Iraq has declared victory over the macabrely murderous takfiri terrorists, it is time for the people, the government, and the security forces to marshal efforts to kick out the American occupiers.
The Cradle of Civilization cannot and should not have any of those dirty Yankees on its sacred soil.
The Land of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, where repose in peace several prophets, including Noah, and where the holy shrines of Six of the Twelve Infallible Heirs of the Last and Greatest Messenger to mankind, Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), are the sites of pilgrimage for the faithful from all over the globe, should be cleansed of the filth of the American presence at the earliest.
Until then, Iraq will be considered an occupied territory, for whose liberation it is the duty of every true Muslim to pool efforts and join the Jihad to oust the unwanted and undesirable elements from the other side of the world.
It is interesting to note that the majority of members of the Iraqi parliament are discussing the passing of a bill to expel the US troops.
It is hoped that MPs affiliated to various parties would soon reach a consensus, in view of the fact that Iraqis, whatever their differing attitudes to a host of issues, are unanimous one thing, and that is, an Iraq independent of the military presence of the hated Americans.
The dotard called Donald Trump who styles himself the US president, has insulted the Iraqi nation and ought to be cut to size.
Last December, he violated the sovereignty of Iraq by entering the country uninvited and in a stealth manner during Christmas to meet US occupation troops stationed less than 200 km from Baghdad. He then demanded that the elected Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi should come to him in the dead of night at the al-Assad airbase – an insolent call that was categorically rejected.
Now, this Don Quixote brags that his occupation troops are in Iraq for keeping an eye on Iran – a remark that brought quick denunciation from the Iraqi people and government against American meddling in their affairs, including the hideous plot to use Iraq as a base against the brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran.
In view of these facts, the sooner a law is passed by the Iraqi parliament for expulsion of all US forces the better for the independence of the country and the welfare of the people.
If not, the Iraqi Muslim people, especially the formidable Hashd ash-Sha’bi or Popular Mobolisation Units (PMU), which drove out the Daesh terrorists, might have to force the Americans to leave.
It is obvious that the Americans lack the guts and the spirit to face popular forces, and even if they were to label them terrorists, there is no way to prevent the steady flow of body bags back home if matters reach the point of armed confrontation.
To quote Qais Khaz’ali, the powerful leader of the Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq (League of the Righteous): "if we are needed we are ready (for action). Trump does not understand that Iraq is now a strong country. But he can be sure that if he persists, he will pay very dearly.”
Mohammad Mohie, spokesman for the Hezbollah Brigades in Iraq warned: "And if they do stay, every Iraqi will have the legitimate right to confront them by any means.”
He added: "Adoption of a parliamentary bill on the US withdrawal would be the first step, and if Trump were to ignore the ruling of the Iraqi legislature, then our forces, along with others would move to the "second step” and take up arms against the American occupiers.”
Another commander of the PMU who requested anonymity said: "The resistance factions have gained capabilities and expertise in the fight against Daesh. The experience they gained will serve to confront any army that threatens Iraq and its sovereignty.”
The Islamic Republic of Iran, which has firmly and fraternally stood beside its Iraqi Muslim brethren, right since the reign of terror of Saddam of the repressive Ba’th minority regime, including the timely advisory help to weed out the Daesh terrorists, extends its moral support to the full independence and progress of the nation of Iraq.
Whatever plots the Great Satan and its devilish minions in the region hatch, they should know that Iraq has a date with destiny. It will be the centre of the global government of peace, justice, and prosperity of Imam Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance), the 12th and Last Infallible Heir of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).