By Xinhua,
Tehran : Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Monday that the presence of U.S.-led forces in Iraq is the country’s fundamental problem.
“The most fundamental problem of Iraq is the presence of foreign forces in that country,” state television quoted Khamenei as saying in his meeting with Maliki in Tehran.
The Iranian supreme leader also said he was sure that the Iraqi people will overcome the difficult circumstances and reach the status they deserve, according to Iranian state television report.
“Helping the Iraqi nation and the government is our religious duty,” Khamenei added.
His remarks came as the United States is pressuring Baghdad to sign an agreement that would allow U.S. soldiers in the country to stay beyond 2008.
Iraqi critics of the agreement said that it means Iraq will be a client state in which the United States will keep more than 50 military bases and American soldiers will enjoy legal immunity.
Iran fiercely opposes the agreement, which is expected to be signed by midsummer, and has always called for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.