Iranian Leader's Adviser Says Legitimacy Does Not Come From Washington

Ali Akbar Velayati, the international affairs adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, said that political legitimacy does not come from Washington, according to a report by Iran's state news agency IRNA.

Velayati's remarks came in reaction to the closure of Najaf Airport in Iraq, though the reported comments did not detail the specific circumstances behind the closure.

The statement reflects a recurring theme in remarks from senior Iranian officials, who have frequently pushed back against what they describe as external interference in the political affairs of Iraq and the wider region.

Najaf is one of the most significant religious centers in Shia Islam, home to the shrine of Imam Ali, and Iran maintains extensive political and religious ties to the city.

IRNA did not report additional detail on the timing or duration of the airport's closure, or on any explanation offered by Iraqi authorities.