Baghdad- Ammar al-Hakim, leader of the Iraqi National Alliance party, has ended a three and a half decades of close relations with Iran when he announced on Monday his withdrawal from the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, which was established and sponsored by Iran.

Hakim, further, announced establishing a new organization called the National Wisdom Stream. This step reflects his pursuit to appear as a national non-Islamic movement after the defamation of political Islam in Iraq since around 14 years.

A reliable source from the council told Asharq Al-Awsat that what Hakim has done is an Iraqi moment. “The man has been trying for long to get rid of the council established by Iran. He expressed this on several occasions,” he added.

Iran was possibly surprised by Hakim’s step, as it recently welcomed a delegation from the council to provide support and continuity away from the new movement, added the source.

He also expected the current leadership in the council to dismiss Ammar Hakim, dissolve the economic office affiliated with the council and demand back the real-estates and places belonging to the council.

An increased number of youths announced enrolling with the new movement.

Hakim declared the establishment of National Wisdom Stream on Monday. “We need a new movement to present national projects,” Hakim said. “For this purpose, we are announcing the National Wisdom Movement, which is a new political movement in Iraq.”

Commenting on the withdrawal of Hakim, the council leadership issued a statement by which it pledged in front of the people to retain religious and political foundations according to which the council was established.

According to political observers, the place chosen by Hakim to make his announcement – at Jadriya – indicates that he will not abandon the Islamic Supreme Council headquarters.