Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani said the attacks were a violation of sovereignty and that no foreign powers should be allowed to decide Iraq’s fate BAGHDAD: Iraq’s top Shiite Muslim cleric on Friday condemned mutual US and Iranian attacks on Iraqi soil and warned of deteriorating security in the country and wider region as a result of Washington’s standoff with Tehran. Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani said the attacks were a violation of sovereignty and that no foreign powers should be allowed to decide Iraq’s fate. Sistani delivered his message through a representative who spoke at Friday prayer in the holy city of Kerbala.