NAJAF, Iraq, July 8 (UPI) -- Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani Tuesday rejected the security deal between Iraq and the United States on the grounds it violates Iraqi sovereignty.

Sistani met in Najaf with Iraqi national security adviser Muwafaq al-Rubaie to receive updates on the progress of the status of forces agreement set to replace the U.N. mandate for Iraq, which expires this year.

The revered cleric said Iraq should not accept a security arrangement that justifies the illegal occupation of the U.S. military, Alalam news said.

Sistani in June outlined a series of conditions necessary for Iraq to entertain the agreements with the United States.

Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council leader Abdul Aziz al-Hakim' title='Abdul Aziz al-Hakim' class='tpstyle'>Abdul Aziz al-Hakim relayed the four points Sistani said preconditioned any long-term security arrangement.