Iran will not forget killing of Qasem Soleimani, Iranian supreme leader Khamenei

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei said that Tehran will not interfere in Baghdad’s relations with the US. But he warned that he will never forget the US killing of Soleimani.

According to details, Ayatollah Khamenei talked to Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhemi n the Iranian capital during his first trip abroad since taking office.

Iranian supreme leader said that US presence next door to the Islamic republic was a reason for insecurity.

He said, “Iran will not interfere in Iraq’s relations with America but expects Iraqi friends to know America and realize that their presence in any country causes corruption, ruin, and destruction,” 

“The Islamic republic expects… (the Iraqi) parliament’s decision to expel the Americans to be adhered to since their presence is a cause of insecurity.”

Khamenei talked about the assassination of Iran’s top general Qasem Soleimani in a January drone strike in Baghdad. Parliament had voted to expel US troops.

He said, Iran “will never forget this and will certainly deal a reciprocal blow to the Americans,”

He also said that Iran was opposed to “whatever may weaken the Iraqi government” in contrast to the US, which he said did not want “an independent, strong Iraqi government elected by popular vote.”

Iran had retaliated Soleimani’s death by firing missiles at US troops in Iraq. 

Iraq’s Prime Minister Kadhemi had been scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia as his first trip abroad, then Iran. His trip to Saudi Arabia was postponed as King Salman was hospitalized on Monday.