TEHRAN (Mehr News Agency) – The chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SAIRI), Abdul Aziz al-Hakim said here on Friday that no power can ever undermine the strong relations between the Iranian and Iraqi nations.

Hakim, in a sermon delivered at Tehran’s Friday prayers yesterday, recalled the cultural and religious affinities between Iran and Iraq and expressed hope that Tehran-Baghdad ties would be expanded.

He hoped that Iranian pilgrims would soon be able to safely visit Iraq’s religious sites, stressing that the Iraqi Governing Council has taken serious steps in that connection.

Hakim recalled the strong affection that the former SAIRI leader, the late Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim, had toward Iranians in his years of exile in the Islamic Republic, stressing that his relations with Iranians were the manifestation of the amicable relations between Iranians and Iraqis.

The member of the Iraqi Governing Council also said Thursday that Iran can play a decisive role in the reconstruction of Iraq.

He told reporters that SAIRI has prepared the ground for Iran's participation in Iraqi reconstruction.

Since its establishment, Iraq's Governing Council has taken numerous measures to restore the rights of the Iraqi people and to improve ties with neighboring states, he said.

Hakim added that the council has opened the doors of Iraq to neighboring states to take part in the country's reconstruction and has brought changes to the previous policies on pilgrimages to holy shrines.

Hakim also said that U.S. forces are occupiers and that there is nowhere in the world where people accept the presence of occupiers in their homeland.

The SAIRI chairman referred to the presence of Turkish forces in Iraq and said foreign forces cannot restore security to Iraq since they are not even able to provide security for themselves.

He said, "Security problems exist in Iraq, but our main problem is the presence of enemies of the nation in the country. They are against establishment of security in Iraq and create obstacles in the way of offering services to the Iraqi people.

"As Iraq's Governing Council, we favor holding free elections in our country and believe the Iraqi people should determine their own fate," added Hakim.

He also stated that the Iraqi nation is able to set up the necessary institutions in their own country.

He said that unity among all Iraqi ethnic groups is the only way to save Iraq from the occupiers, adding that it is essential for Iraqis to avoid ethnic disputes.

Hakim arrived here on Sunday. During his stay here, Hakim met with the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, President Mohammad Khatami, Judiciary Chief Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, Majlis Speaker Mahdi Karrubi, and Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi.

This was Hakim’s first visit to Iran as the SAIRI chairman and a member of the Iraqi Governing Council.