Iranian cleric claims Iraqi elections were rigged

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi, Iranian Shiite leader speaking in his Beyond Religion class in Qom contended that Iraqi parliamentary elections “were without a doubt fraudulent."

Iran’s state new agency IRNA reports that the Shiite leader in Qom expressed certainty that the US had rigged the Iraqi elections in its own favour.

In Iraq’s parliamentary elections, Iraqiyah Party led by Ayad Allawi won a parliamentary majority.

Nouri Al-Maleki, Iraqi Prime Minister disputed the outcome of the elections and called for a recount but the Elections Commission refused his request maintaining that there are no signs of fraud.

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi maintained: “Since the victory of secular groups in Iraq is more in line with US interests, they consider it a healthy and correct election process.”

He added that since the outcome of Iran’s elections is not “beneficial” for the US and the West, they pronounce it disputable.

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi’s comments on Iraqi elections follow Ayad Allawi’s accusations of Iran yesterday for interfering in Iraqi affairs.

Prior to the elections, the representative of Ayatollah Khamenei, Yahya Rahim Safavi had expressed hopes that Iraqi Shiites might win the elections.