Baghdad Friday Imam: Resistance Groups Cannot Be Accused Without Evidence
Ayatollah Yasin Mousavi calls on Iraq’s government to defend national sovereignty, investigate allegations and put national interests ahead of foreign dependence.
Baghdad Friday imam Ayatollah Yasin Mousavi criticized what he described as the Iraqi government’s shift toward the United States and urged officials to prioritize national sovereignty and public welfare. He called for evidence before accusing Iraqi resistance groups, demanded an investigation into allegations of a missile launch toward Saudi Arabia, and warned that border closures and reduced energy cooperation with Iran could harm pilgrims, merchants and low-income citizens.
**TEHRAN —** Baghdad’s Friday imam, Ayatollah Sayyed Yasin Mousavi, has criticized the Iraqi government’s approach to regional developments, urging it to defend Iraq’s national interests and sovereignty rather than align its policies with outside powers.
According to a report by Iran’s IRNA news agency, Mousavi made the remarks during the political sermon of Friday prayers on September 18, 2026. He is also described by the report as a prominent scholar at the Najaf seminary.
Mousavi said that religious and national responsibilities require people to speak the truth and stand against injustice. In discussing the region’s political and military landscape, he characterized it as a competition and confrontation between different axes.
One of those groupings, he said, consists of the United States and its allies, while the other is what he called the “resistance axis”—a grouping that, in his description, supports populations facing oppression in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Bahrain and other areas.
### Criticism of Baghdad’s regional stance
The Baghdad imam criticized successive Iraqi governments, particularly the current administration, arguing that Baghdad had moved away from neutrality and closer to the United States-led camp.
He said that some official positions and statements were incompatible with defending the interests of the Iraqi people and protecting the country’s sovereignty. Mousavi called on the government to place national interests before foreign dependence and to assess regional developments through the lens of Iraq’s own security and welfare.
He also questioned whether the United States was capable of creating lasting stability in the region. In his remarks, Mousavi pointed to what he described as Washington’s wars and interventions in the Middle East and elsewhere, arguing that genuine stability depended on peace and respect for the rights of nations rather than military bases and political domination.
Mousavi similarly criticized the reliance of some Gulf countries on American military bases. He said the bases had not delivered the security those countries expected and had instead contributed to the continuation of regional tensions.
Referring to the war in Yemen, he warned about the consequences of the United States’ regional military presence and its support for the policies of Saudi Arabia, according to the IRNA account.
### Call for evidence over allegations
A central part of Mousavi’s remarks concerned accusations directed at Iraqi resistance groups. He warned that such groups could not be accused without evidence and supporting documentation.
His comments came in response to government statements concerning an alleged missile launch from Iraqi territory toward Saudi Arabia. Mousavi called for a detailed investigation of the matter before any official statement was issued or decisions were taken.
The call for an inquiry, as reported by IRNA, reflects his broader criticism of what he portrayed as rushed decisions and statements that could further expose Iraq to regional tensions. He urged officials to establish the facts before assigning responsibility.
### Concerns over border closures and energy ties
Mousavi also criticized the closure of Iraq’s borders with Iran, saying the decision had created serious difficulties for Iraqi pilgrims, particularly women, children and older people.
He warned that border restrictions could also produce wider economic consequences by increasing the prices of goods and harming merchants and ordinary citizens. The comments linked the border issue to the livelihoods of communities that depend on cross-border trade and movement, although the report did not provide figures on the scale of the economic impact.
In another part of the sermon, Mousavi emphasized the need to protect Iraq’s interests in the oil, gas and electricity sectors. He said Iranian gas played a role in supplying Iraq’s energy needs and argued that cutting economic cooperation could harm low-income and vulnerable groups.
His remarks presented energy cooperation not only as an economic issue but also as a matter affecting daily life and social stability. He maintained that policies affecting imports, electricity and energy supplies should be assessed according to their effects on ordinary citizens.
### Appeal to the government and Coordination Framework
At the conclusion of his sermon, Mousavi called on the Iraqi government and the Coordination Framework to fulfill their responsibilities toward the public. He urged them to avoid what he described as unjust decisions and attempts to impose military control.
He said that creating a just government required sound administration, respect for citizens’ rights and the prioritization of national interests over foreign dependence.
Mousavi’s remarks, as reported by IRNA, combine criticism of Baghdad’s regional positioning with calls for greater scrutiny of security allegations and protection of economic ties. They also place Iraq’s sovereignty, public welfare and the treatment of resistance groups at the center of a wider debate over how the country should respond to regional conflict and pressure from competing powers.