Jannati Pleased With New Majlis, Critical of U.S. Policy in Iraq

Addressing thousands of worshipers who gathered at the Tehran University campus for the weekly Friday congregational prayers, Ayatollah Jannati said that despite the fact that some people tried to delay the inauguration of the new Majlis, it began its activities with the help of Almighty Allah.

Ayatollah Jannati also thanked Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei for his efforts and lofty directives on the necessity for the new parliament to start its work on time.

Elsewhere in his sermon, he urged MPs to consider the demands of the people who elected them as their representatives.

Jannati also thanked the MPs who promised to try to deal with the hardships facing the people and who signed a letter addressed to the Supreme Leader renewing their allegiance to him.

He advised MPs to be vigilant and warned them to avoid being influenced by the divisiveness in society, which could create divisions in their ranks.

Ayatollah Jannati said personal views should not lead to major disputes in the parliament since that would diminish the nation’s prospects for progress.

He went on to say that U.S. leaders should be ashamed to use slogans claiming that they are establishing a democratic process in Iraq while they are committing the most ignominious acts in that country.

Jannati also harshly criticized the U.S. troops who attacked the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf.

Condemning the United States' policies in Iraq, he said the U.S. measures and policies are detrimental to the international community since U.S. officials are duplicitously mouthing slogans about human rights in other countries, Iraq included.

He stated that the United States erroneously thinks it can achieve its objectives by following wrongheaded policies in Iraq, adding that Washington has paid dearly for its mistakes in the war-torn nation.

He called on all Muslims and particularly the Shias to support the Iraqis in their liberation struggle against the occupying forces.

Over the past few weeks, Karbala and Najaf have witnessed scenes of massacres of civilians at the hands of U.S. troops.

Ayatollah Jannati also commented on the quake that rocked northern Iran last Friday and offered condolences to the families of the victims of the earthquake.

He called on officials to adopt proper measures to provide assistance to the quake-stricken people and to consider strengthening the country’s infrastructure in order to decrease casualties in natural disasters.

The powerful earthquake completely destroyed 27 villages in Mazandaran and left at least 30 people dead and over 250 injured.

The quake, which measured 5.5 on the Richter scale, struck the Caspian Sea province of Mazandaran and jolted almost half of Iran.

It was the most powerful quake to hit Iran since last December when a 6.6 magnitude temblor leveled the historic city of Bam in Kerman province, killing over 20,000 people and injuring tens of thousands.

AV/HG

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MNA