Mohammad Khatami, the President of Iran, stated that there are no winners in the Iraq war. The Islamic Republic's official news agency, IRNA, reported Khatami's remarks made at a gathering in the city of Saravan, where he said that both Saddam Hussein and the U.S.-led coalition are losers in this war. Khatami explained that Saddam is a loser because his government was overthrown, while the U.S. is a loser due to global public opposition to military operations in Iraq. He described the U.S.-led military occupation of Iraq as a major mistake and emphasized that the United Nations should engage in post-war Iraq to assist the Iraqi people in establishing their own government. Iran is openly opposed to the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
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Mohammad Khatami: There Are No Winners in the Iraq War - 2003-04-12
Feb 10, 2026
February 10, 2026
1 min read
📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway
Mohammad Khatami, the Iranian President, declared that both Saddam Hussein and the U.S.-led coalition lost the Iraq war. He criticized the military occupation and called for UN involvement to help Iraq establish a government. This stance reflects Iran's opposition to U.S. military actions in the region.
🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line:
Khatami's comments highlight Iran's strategic interests in Iraq and its opposition to U.S. military interventions.
👥 Key Players
Mohammad Khatami
MENTIONED
President of Iran
"Khatami was a reformist leader who sought to improve Iran's relations with the West and promote civil liberties, making his views significant in the context of Iranian politics and international relations."
Saddam Hussein
MENTIONED
Former President of Iraq
"Hussein's regime was a key adversary to Iran, and his overthrow had major implications for regional power dynamics."
U.S.-led coalition
MENTIONED
Military alliance that invaded Iraq
"The coalition's actions in Iraq directly affected Iran's strategic interests and regional influence."
📰 What Happened
Mohammad Khatami stated that both Saddam Hussein and the U.S.-led coalition lost in the Iraq war, criticizing the military occupation and calling for UN involvement to help Iraq establish a government.
- Khatami described the U.S. military occupation as a major mistake.
- He emphasized the need for the United Nations to assist in post-war Iraq.
💡 Why It Matters
🇮🇷 For Iran: Khatami's remarks reflect Iran's opposition to U.S. influence in the region and its desire to position itself as a supporter of Iraqi sovereignty.
🌍 Regional: The statement underscores the shifting power dynamics in the Middle East following the Iraq war, with Iran potentially gaining influence.
🌐 International: Khatami's criticism of the U.S. reflects broader anti-American sentiments in the region and may impact U.S. foreign policy.
📚 Background
The Iraq war, initiated by the U.S. in 2003, aimed to overthrow Saddam Hussein but led to prolonged instability in the region, affecting neighboring countries like Iran.
U.S.-Iran relations
Middle Eastern geopolitics
📡 Source:
STATE MEDIA
📊 Confidence:
70%
As the article is sourced from IRNA, Iran's official news agency, it reflects the government's perspective and may emphasize pro-Iranian narratives.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
🌐
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%
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