"The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran continues supporting the Iraqi government and nation as before," Ayatollah Khamenei said.

The Supreme Leader underlined that the Iraqi nation and government's resistance and stand against the terrorists will ensure the security of the regional countries, and said, "Bravery, determination and the power of the brave volunteer and popular forces in confronting the enemy are key features of the Iraqi people that became more evident in their fight against terrorists."

Ayatollah Khamenei said the western spy agencies are seeking hard to break the Iraqis' national and political unity and solidarity, and recalled that the British colonialists never wanted unity of the Iraqi people in a bid to loot their assets, but failed.

The Supreme Leader underlined that the Islamic Republic of Iran considers Iraq's security and progress as its own, and said, "On the one hand, the Americans want to plunder Iraq's wealth as they are doing in some regional Arab countries and, on the other hand they want to impose their aspirations (on the Iraqi nation) as in the past, but they should not be allowed to achieve their goals."

Ayatollah Khamenei underlined the need for the Iraqi nation to keep vigilant and maintain political and national unity and solidarity, and said, "The huge capacity of the volunteer forces will prove to be very effective and influential for the future and progress of Iraq in different fields."

The Iraqi prime minister, for his part, thanked Iran for its continued and all-out support for his country, and said, "The enemies of Iraq have concentrated their efforts on stirring ethnic and sectarian strife, but the Iraqi nation and government are resolved to confront this plot and maintain their national unity."