Ali Khamenei
Has been the Supreme Leader of the Muslim Ummah in the Islamic Republic of Iran since 1989.
Khamenei: The Iraqi people will hate any government established in Iraq that will be recognized as appointed by the Americans, just as the Americans are hated. The Americans' coming to Iraq was a mistake. Their staying was a mistake. Their behavior with the population was a mistake....They must know that certainly, the Islamic world and chiefly the Shiite world will not stay silent in face of this.
Iran has always been keen to see an independent Iraq with a popular government in its neighborhood and accordingly the present government in Iraq is fully supported by Iran.
The faithful and brave commander of the Islamic army and devoted soldier of the religion and the holy Qur'an attained martyrdom at the hands of the criminal, bloodthirsty and disgraced munafiqeen hypocrites. This is not the first nor the last time a faithful and lover of the lofty ideas of the divine faith has been martyred by the dirty, criminal and corrupt hands of those mercenaries who have to earn their livelihood only through serving the enemies of Islam. The hot plains of Khuzestan and the high mountains of Kurdestan have witnessed the preparedness and devotion of the brave and determined man who left numerous memories of his courage and self-sacrifice during the eight-year sacred defense period.
Drawing near to the holy places (Najaf and Karbala) and damaging their honor is no trivial matter...This is also not unique to the Shiites. The Muslims have responded to this issue...As long as they (the Americans) persist in committing this crime, so will the wrath of the Islamic world increase and rage.
If God forbid, a bitter experience and test emerges for the nation we ourselves will put on combat fatigues and get ready for sacrifice.