TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei voiced concern over foreign plots to sow discord among Iraqi people, stressing that the Arab country should boost national unity so that the US dare not speak of Iraq’s disintegration.

Speaking in a meeting with visiting Iraqi President Fuad Masum in Tehran on Tuesday, Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to attempts by some foreign states to create division in Iraq and said for centuries, the Iraqi people, including Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds, have lived together without any problem.

“However,” the Leader added, “Some regional countries and foreigners are, unfortunately, seeking to exaggerate differences.”

Imam Khamenei further underlined that the Iraqi nation should stand against the foreign plots and avoid any excuse that underlies discord.

“Definitely, the Iraqi officials would base relations with foreign countries, including the US, on the expediencies and interests of their people, but the US should not be allowed to view Iraq as its own property and speak and act (regarding Iraq as it wills),” Ayatollah Khamenei noted.

“The atmosphere should not become such that the Americans dare to openly speak of Iraq’s disintegration,” the Leader said.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei praised the Iraqi volunteer forces, namely Popular Mobilization Forces which are fighting against ISIL terrorists in the Arab country, saying that the forces symbolize the Iraqi youths’ vigilance and power.

The Iraqi president, for his part, highlighted the enhanced solidarity and unity of the Iraqi people, adding that great successes have been achieved in the campaign against ISIL terrorist group (also known as Daesh).

Iraq has been facing the growing threat of terrorism, mainly posed by the ISIL terrorist group.

The ISIL militants made swift advances in much of northern and western Iraq over the last summer, after capturing large swaths of northern Syria.

However, a combination of concentrated attacks by the Iraqi military and the volunteer forces, who rushed to take arms after top Iraqi cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani issued a fatwa calling for fight against the militants, have blunted the edge of the ISIL offensive.

Amid tensions in Iraq, Iran is known as the first country to help the Arab country and has always voiced support for Iraq’s solidarity and prosperity.

By Tasnim News Agency