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"Spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, announced that Iraq is 'completely excluded from any transit restriction imposed by Tehran in the Strait of Hormuz', emphasising that 'those limitations apply only to hostile countries' while Baghdad 'never capitulates or bows to the system of hegemony', speaking in a video statement released on Saturday. "In light of the current situation, the dear Iraqi Muslim people have adopted a prudent and genuine stance against the global American arrogance and the terrorist Zionist regime. Iraq took a high-impact and revolutionary reaction to the martyrdom of the leader of the Islamic Revolution and its supreme religious authority, His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Khamenei," Zolfaghari stated in a statement. "The Iranian people were not alone. As we were fighting, your hearts, tears, and robust stances were, and still are, with us. Your support has been and will continue to be an incentive for greater determination and resolve to continue the struggle. We pray for you to succeed in confronting the criminal America and its proxies," he added. The Iranian military official also commended the stance of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) against the attacks on their country, saying, "The Iranian people offer their highest respect to the souls of heroic Iraqi martyrs, especially the resistance factions and PMF martyrs." "We also salute the fighters of the resistance factions and the conscious Iraqi citizens and sons of noble tribes. We ask Allah for your continued success. We highly estimate the positions of the eminent scholars and jurists in Iraq, especially the highest Shiite authority. We highly appreciate their support for the Iranian people and their firm stances in face of global arrogance," Zolfaghari continued. Following the outbreak of US-Israeli military operations against Iran, factions affiliated with Iraq's PMF stepped in a 'comprehensive confrontation' against US forces in response to strikes on the groups' strongholds as well as in support for Iran. Tensions escalated in the Middle East after the US and Israel launched a joint military operation on Iran on February 28, when diplomatic talks were taking place aimed at 'undermining Iran's nuclear and missile programmes'. Tehran then announced retaliatory strikes on Israel and the US assets in the region, with explosions being reported in different Gulf countries. Later, Iran confirmed the killing of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with his son, Mujtaba Khamenei, selected as his successor. The conflict spilt over into Lebanon as Hezbollah intervened 'in revenge' for the assassination of the Iranian Supreme Leader. The shipment routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, were disrupted following the closure of the Strait."
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