Iraqi Groups React to Trump’s Remarks on Iran’s Leadership
WANA (Jan 21) – Following recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump calling for “new leadership in Iran,” several Iraqi groups aligned with the Axis of Resistance have issued strong statements expressing support for the Islamic Republic of Iran and its Supreme Leader.
Hassan al-Abbadi, the representative of Iraq’s Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada movement in Iran, said on Tuesday in an interview with Iranian media that Trump’s remarks about Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei were “insulting” and disrespectful. He stressed that the Supreme Leader of Iran holds a significant religious status and warned that such rhetoric could have serious regional consequences.
Al-Abbadi strongly criticized Trump’s political and military record, accusing him of responsibility for the deaths of innocent civilians in the region and asserting that, from the group’s perspective, he should be held accountable for his actions. He added that Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada considers itself a “defender and supporter of the Islamic Republic of Iran and its leadership,” emphasizing solidarity between Iraqi groups and Iran.
In a separate statement, a member of the Political Council of Iraq’s Harakat al-Nujaba warned that any act of aggression—or even a threatening posture—toward Iran’s Supreme Leader would be regarded as the beginning of a large-scale conflict. While noting that many of the threats remain rhetorical, he said the Shiite community is highly sensitive to such matters and stressed that Iraq would not abandon Iran under these circumstances.
Trump’s interview with Politico. Social Media / WANA News Agency
These reactions came after Trump said in an interview with Politico that it was time to seek “new leadership in Iran.” He accused Iran’s rulers of relying on repression and violence, claiming that Ayatollah Khamenei’s leadership had led to the country’s deterioration and the use of unprecedented levels of force.
The comments were made amid renewed verbal tensions between Iranian officials and U.S. political figures, as diplomatic relations between Tehran and Washington remain at a stalemate. Regional observers warn that escalating rhetoric could further increase political and security instability across the Middle East.
