World

Iraq’s Prime Minister Reaffirms Neutrality Amid US‑Iran Tensions

By Al Jazeera Staff

Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi told U.S. President Donald Trump over the phone on Thursday that Baghdad will not allow its territory to be used to launch attacks on neighboring countries. Al‑Zaidi’s office said the two leaders discussed the evolving regional situation, security developments and prospects for the next phase. He reiterated Iraq’s call for respect for state sovereignty and for Iraqi territory not to serve as a launch point for attacks against neighbors, and stressed the need for diplomacy and dialogue to safeguard regional security and stability.

Iraq, which borders Iran, has struggled to balance U.S. and Iranian interests since the U.S. launched a war on Iran in February. Since taking office in May, al‑Zaidi has prioritized the disarmament of all militias in the country, including several powerful pro‑Iran groups that have supported Iran in the conflict.

Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein told Dijlah TV that the possibility of renewed U.S. military strikes against Iran is “not a secret” and warned Iraqi armed groups against joining any Iranian retaliation. He said “pushing Iraqi society into the war will lead to a disaster” and that neither Iraqi society nor the armed forces are prepared for war. Hussein added that Iraq has been turned into a battlefield after the U.S. struck Iran, with the country facing attacks from both the U.S. and Iran, as well as from armed groups inside Iraq. He emphasized that Iraq is not part of any axis and does not want its arena turned into a battlefield, noting that it has good relations with both the U.S. and Iran and needs a clear policy that it is not a part of the war.

Since the war began, Iraq has lost more than $60 billion in oil revenues, as about 90 percent of its oil exports normally pass through the Strait of Hormuz and were largely cut off when Tehran closed the waterway. Oil accounts for about 90 percent of Iraq’s federal budget. Since then, Iraq has been one of the few countries granted an exemption by Iran to pass freely through the Strait of Hormuz.