Iran’s Top Clerical Body Calls for “Islamic government” in Iraq

Iran Focus: Tehran, Sep. 19 – The Assembly of Experts, an exclusive body of Muslim clerics who appoint the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, opened its twelfth session today amid heightened regional and international tensions
over Iran’s nuclear project and its meddling in Iraq. Iran Focus

Tehran, Sep. 19 – The Assembly of Experts, an exclusive body of Muslim clerics who appoint the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, opened its twelfth session today amid heightened regional and international tensions over Iran’s nuclear project and its meddling in Iraq.

In his inaugural address, Speaker Ayatollah Ali Meshkini bluntly called for the establishment of an “Islamic government” in neighboring Iraq. He said the United States and Britain were responsible for “the ruthless massacre of the Iraqi people and must therefore be punished by a competent court.”

He urged Iraqi leaders to become united in order to “expel the occupiers and establish an Islamic government.”

Meshkini also called for the expulsion of members of the Iranian opposition group, the People’s Mojahedin, from Iraq and stated that “these terrorists must be handed over to their government.”

Iran’s clerical leaders have been angered by the the U.S.-led coalition’s recognition of the People’s Mojahedin members in Iraq as “protected persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention.”

Meshkini’s statement comes amid growing concern in Western and Arab capitals over Iran’s role in Iraq. The Sunday Times today quoted sources in the British intelligence as saying that London has identified Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as the main source of funding and training for the Shi’ite insurgency in southern Iraq.