Hawzah News Agency- Ayatollah Seyyed Yasin Mousavi, the Friday prayer leader of Baghdad and a prominent professor at the Najaf seminary, said in his Friday sermon on October 23, 2026: The protests that erupted in France and several European countries and ultimately in the United States following rising prices and deteriorating economic conditions indicate changes in the world's political and economic equations. He added that the consequences of the war against Iran are now affecting the economies of Western countries and energy markets.
He added that the West's handling of the protests reveals double standards, as Western powers that criticize other governments' treatment of popular protests resort to violence against protesters themselves when the protests are linked to their own domestic interests. He described these positions as reflecting the continuation of the colonial domination logic in managing international relations—a logic far removed from the humanitarian considerations these countries claim to uphold.
Ayatollah Mousavi, referring to rising oil prices and accompanying market fluctuations, said these developments are linked to field developments in the region and the Strait of Hormuz, and global markets are paying attention to field realities rather than merely reacting to political statements. He also noted that protests in the US against Trump's policies and the war against Iran indicate that the economic consequences of this conflict are being transferred into the US itself and do not necessarily mean humanitarian solidarity with the Iranian nation.
He emphasized that Iraq must base its position on this conflict on national interests and geographic and political realities, warning that alignment with the US against Iran could expose Iraq to risks it cannot bear. Ayatollah Mousavi said Iraq faces two fundamental options: either enter the war alongside one of the parties to the conflict or maintain its neutrality. He stressed that adopting a hostile position toward Iran while relying on US support is not based on a realistic assessment of the balance of power and interests.
The Baghdad Friday prayer leader also questioned the benefit of pinning hopes on the US to support Iraq, noting that media reports indicate the withdrawal of American forces from several countries in the region, including Kuwait, the UAE, and others. He emphasized that Iraqi decision-makers must listen to the people and consider their interests before making decisions that could plunge the country into military confrontation or more severe economic crises. He also warned against repeating past experiences that brought catastrophe to Iraq due to miscalculation of regional and international developments.
Ayatollah Mousavi also called on Iraqi political groups to shoulder their historical responsibility and not limit the running of the country to personal positions or statements about individually accepting responsibility. He said the fate of the country, its economy, and the livelihood of the people cannot be managed with the logic of personal challenges; rather, these matters require an institutional approach, experience, and scientific planning.
In the economic section, he emphasized the need to distinguish between "economics as a science" and "economic schools of thought," saying that managing the country's economy is not limited to academic knowledge or degrees but requires understanding economic options that determine the nature of wealth distribution, resource management, and the relationship between the state and citizens. Citing the book "Our Economy" (Iqtisaduna) by the martyred Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad Baqer Sadr, he called on officials to benefit from the economic views presented in the book to understand economic and social problems.
Ayatollah Mousavi criticized financial policies that have weakened the purchasing power of the Iraqi dinar and delayed salary payments, warning that rising prices and declining income values have made salaries no longer sufficient to meet families' needs throughout the month.
He also explained that the closure of border crossings with Iran has led to a reduction in the entry of certain goods into the Iraqi market, affecting the prices of agricultural products and other essential goods. He called for a careful review of decisions related to border crossings and foreign trade, emphasizing that hasty measures must not be taken without assessing their direct impact on markets and consumers.
The Baghdad Friday prayer leader warned that continued inflation, poverty, and declining purchasing power could lead to the expansion of popular protests, emphasizing that hunger and livelihood pressures are among the most dangerous factors threatening social stability. He added that resolving economic crises requires measured decisions, clear policies, and honestly sharing existing realities with the people, and that problems and the suffering of the people must not be compounded by hasty and unprofessional measures.
At the end of his sermon, Ayatollah Mousavi emphasized that his criticisms stem from concern for Iraq's interests and its people, not from personal motives or a desire to insult officials. He expressed hope that God would guide officials in making correct decisions and abandoning unwise methods so they may seriously address political and economic crises and protect the interests of citizens, especially the poor and low-income segments.
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