Iraq's highest religious authority, Sayyed Ali al-Sistani emphasized on Monday the need to prevent external interventions of all forms, expressing his sorrow over the international community and its institutions' inability to impose effective solutions to stop the Israeli onslaughts in Gaza and Lebanon.

Sayyed al-Sistani hosted the United Nations secretary-general representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Mohamed al-Hassan, along with his accompanying delegation.

In a statement issued by Sayyed al-Sistani's office, it was noted that Sayyed al-Sistani provided his guests with a brief explanation regarding the international mission's tasks and the role it aims to play in the coming period. He welcomed the UN's presence in Iraq and wished its mission success in fulfilling its duties.

Sayyed al-Sistani added that "Iraqis, especially the aware elites, should take lessons from the experiences they have gone through and exert their utmost efforts to overcome their failures, working diligently toward achieving a better future for their country, where everyone enjoys security, stability, progress, and prosperity."

He also stressed that this cannot be achieved without developing scientific and practical plans for managing the country based on the principles of competence and integrity in assuming positions of responsibility, preventing external interventions in all their forms, and upholding the rule of law.

Regarding the volatile situation in the region, Sayyed al-Sistani expressed "deep sorrow for the ongoing tragedy in Lebanon and Gaza and profound regret over the international community's and its institutions' failure to impose effective solutions to stop it, or at the very least, to protect civilians from the harsh aggressions perpetrated by the Israeli entity."

Any disrespect toward Sayyed al-Sistani's position 'unacceptable'

On his part, al-Hassan affirmed that any disrespect toward the position of the highest religious authority represented by Sayyed al-Sistani is unacceptable.

During a press conference following his meeting with Sayyed al-Sistani in Najaf, Iraq, al-Hassan said, "I was honored to meet His Eminence Sayyed al-Sistani, and I listened to his wisdom and insights regarding the region and Iraq."

"You know the position of Sayyed al-Sistani in both the Islamic world and globally, and I am pleased with this meeting. I agreed with His Eminence to work together to enhance Iraq’s status."

Al-Hassan noted that Sayyed al-Sistani requested that he focus on priorities that serve Iraq's interests, calling for the enhancement of bilateral ties between the nation and its neighbors. 

He also asserted that the United Nations is committed to supporting Iraq's priorities and only intervenes in an advisory capacity.

It is worth noting that the Israeli Channel 14 recently leaked an image revealing what it described as  "Israel's target list" of prominent regional leaders. Among those listed was Iraq's Sayyed al-Sistani, who was marked as a "legitimate target".

The leak has raised serious concerns, further highlighting the escalating tensions in the region and the potential targeting of influential figures by "Israel".