Iran's foreign minister put the United States on notice on 18 August 2004: any military move against the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf would be seen as a provocation by Muslims around the world.
Kamal Kharazi, speaking through the state-run IRNA news agency, described potential US encroachment on the shrine as "provocative for Muslims worldwide" and called on Washington to refrain from such a step. The Imam Ali mosque is one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, drawing pilgrims from across the Muslim world.
Kharazi also argued that Iraqi civilians had sought refuge inside the shrine compound to escape US bombing of residential neighborhoods elsewhere in the city.
Iraqi Defense Minister Hazem al-Shaalan, speaking separately, issued a blunt ultimatum to Moqtada Sadr's militiamen, who had fortified positions in Najaf. Al-Shaalan said the fighters had only hours to lay down their arms before a major offensive would be launched against them.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in August 2004, in its own words.