Tasnim � An official with Iraq�s al-Nujaba Movement, a major Shia resistance group, condemned new US sanctions on Tehran, calling on Iraqi politicians to stand by Iran in tough times.


�We condemn this awful decision and ask you (Iraqi officials) to stand by the brave Iranian nation and its wise leader as they stood by the Iraqi nation while our land was attacked by the evil forces and when we had no help but the children of Salman the Persian," Head of al-Nujaba�s Political Council Sheikh Ali al-Asadi said recently in an apparent address to Iraqi politicians, according to the public relations office of the movement.

He added, �The soft-headed US president can�t make the Iranian nation, who absolutely willingly chose Wilayat Faqih system, give in�.

The remarks came after Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Tuesday that Baghdad does not agree with US sanctions against Iran but will abide by them to protect its own interests.

�As a matter of principle, we are against sanctions in the region. Blockade and sanctions destroy societies and do not weaken regimes,� he said at a news conference.

�We consider them (sanctions on Iran) a strategic mistake and incorrect but we will abide by them to protect the interests of our people. We will not interact with them or support them but we will abide by them,� Abadi added.

The head of al-Nujaba�s Political Council further said, "The cruel decision made by the US president against the Iranian nation is against all the human values and international and moral laws".

�Iran will strongly and successfully pass the current stage; as it did in the past through the directions of its wise leader�.

The United States reimposed stiff economic sanctions on Iran on Monday, ratcheting up pressure on the Islamic Republic despite statements of deep dismay from European allies, three months after President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.

A first set of reimposed US sanctions affect financial transactions that involve US dollars, Iran's automotive sector, the purchase of commercial planes and metals including gold.

A second batch of US sanctions targeting Iran's oil sector and central bank are to be reimposed in early November.

Trump warned that those who don't wind down their economic ties to Iran "risk severe consequences."