Al-Halbousi: We will not allow any state to be targeted from our territory

Riyadh – Agencies: Iraqi Parliament Speaker Heibat al-Turki revealed details of American and Turkish positions regarding the next phase, emphasizing that Baghdad “will not allow any state to be targeted from within Iraqi territory.” Al-Turki told Al Arabiya channel yesterday that U.S. President Donald Trump informed Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Allawi that he “will not permit any external interference in Iraq,” while noting that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his country’s readiness to cooperate with Baghdad in the security and economic fields. He added that Erdogan also signaled his willingness to withdraw from the Incirlik base, stressing that Iraq seeks to ensure its sovereignty and that all institutions and military formations must be under the command of the Iraqi Army. He further stressed that “the decision on war and peace must rest with the Parliament, when requested by the government… and there will be no presence of weapons outside the military institution.” The Iraqi Parliament Speaker reaffirmed that Baghdad “wants to consolidate its sovereignty and prevent any weapons or forces outside state institutions,” noting that Baghdad’s relations with its Arab neighborhood had been strained due to armed factions “obeying orders from certain countries,” and that the continued presence of these factions is “rejected by parliament and the government.” Regarding relations with Iran, al-Turki said Iraq respects its ties with Iran but stressed the necessity of respecting Iraqi sovereignty internally. He added that Iran had not exempted Iraqi tankers from the navigation ban in the Strait of Hormuz. He also disclosed U.S. approval for Liath al-Khazaali, brother of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq leader Qais al-Khazaali, to assume the post of Deputy Prime Minister.