Hawzah News Agency- Delivering his sermon, Ayatollah Mousavi said recent domestic and international developments once again place Iraq at the center of regional dynamics, stressing that the anniversary of victory over Takfiri terrorism and the commemoration of the PMF mark a historic turning point for the Iraqi nation and state.
PMF foiled a project to dismantle Iraq
Ayatollah Mousavi recalled that Iraq passed through one of the most dangerous periods in its modern history, when a coordinated project aimed at dividing and overthrowing the country was carried out through Takfiri terrorist groups.
“What occurred was not accidental,” he said. “It was a clear and organized project, regardless of who implemented it on the ground.”
He noted that the historic Jihad al-Kifai fatwa issued by Iraq’s top religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Sistani, alongside the strong national spirit of the Iraqi people, formed the foundation for defeating the conspiracy.
“Iraqis answered the call of the religious authority, rushed to the battlefields, filled the fronts, and through immense sacrifices of martyrs and wounded, liberated their land in less than a year,” Ayatollah Mousavi said, contrasting this with US assessments that the war would last at least a decade.
US miscalculations exposed
The Baghdad Friday imam revealed that at the height of the crisis, the Iraqi government requested assistance from the United States, but was told Washington was unable to provide immediate help and required months of study—an answer that, in practice, meant the loss of Iraq.
“The Iraqi nation, its resistance forces, scholars, and religious authority proved these calculations wrong and demonstrated their ability to create a historic victory,” he said.
Continued US dominance over Iraqi decisions
Ayatollah Mousavi warned that despite the sacrifices made to liberate Iraq, the country still faces occupation in indirect forms, particularly through political and economic pressure.
He referred to a decision recently published in Iraq’s official gazette, Al-Waqa’ al-Iraqiyya, which listed Hezbollah and Yemen’s Ansarullah movement as terrorist organizations and banned any financial dealings with them—a move later described by the government as an “administrative error.”
According to Ayatollah Mousavi, the committee at Iraq’s Central Bank responsible for such decisions includes American members, indicating that the listing resulted from Iraq’s compliance with US directives.
“This clearly demonstrates that Iraq’s financial and economic sovereignty remains dependent on American will,” he said, noting that the decision was issued despite the absence of any official financial interaction between Iraq and the listed groups.
Pressure on Iraq’s political process
The cleric also warned about US pressure on the process of forming Iraq’s government, particularly threats aimed at excluding political figures close to resistance groups.
He cited statements by US officials, especially during the presidency of Donald Trump, cautioning that Baghdad has been threatened with diplomatic or economic consequences if such figures are included in government structures.
“These policies must be clearly understood by the Iraqi nation,” Mousavi said.
Shift in US strategy
Ayatollah Mousavi stressed that Washington’s approach has fundamentally changed in recent years, abandoning slogans such as “spreading democracy” in favor of openly pursuing American interests through pressure, threats, and even the prospect of military intervention.
“This strategy is clearly visible across the region and inside Iraq,” he said.
Call for sovereignty and national awareness
The Baghdad Friday imam urged Iraqi political forces to adopt realism in negotiations with the United States, emphasizing that true independence requires a long-term struggle rooted in cultural awareness and public education.
“Independence is not achieved overnight,” he said. “It begins with educating the people about the meaning and importance of national sovereignty.”
He also called on the public and the future parliament to pressure the next government to define a clear national strategy before entering power-sharing negotiations, warning against personality-driven politics that place individuals or parties above the interests of the nation.
Tribute to martyrs and resistance leaders
In closing, Ayatollah Mousavi paid tribute to Iraq’s martyred leaders, including Seyyed Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr and Seyyed Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim, describing their sacrifices as foundational to Iraq’s freedom and dignity.
“Our martyrs are our leaders, and our leaders are our martyrs,” he said. “We carry the Muhammadan, Alawite, and Shiite path of Imam Ali (peace be upon him). We do not tremble before the world, and we strive to ensure that divine truth remains victorious.”
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