Iran’s Khamenei calls for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Sep. 13 – In a meeting with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Wednesday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for the withdrawal of United States-led troops from Iraq. Iran Focus

Tehran, Iran, Sep. 13 – In a meeting with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Wednesday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for the withdrawal of United States-led troops from Iraq.

The state-run news agency ISNA quoted Khamenei as saying that the “presence of the occupying forces in Iraq” was partly to blame for the Iraqi people’s “suffering”.

“With the departure of the occupiers much of Iraq’s problems will be resolved. For this reason, we seek the departure of the occupiers from Iraq”, he said.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran believes it to be its duty to give practical support to the Iraqi government and nation”, Khamenei said.

Washington routinely blames Tehran for aiding the insurgency in Iraq.