Iraqi Foreign Minister: Current Conditions Signal Possibility of Renewed War in the Region - Sarmad
Fouad Hussein warns of potential war and clarifies Iraq's stance on Iran and the Syrian border
Translated by Qiyas from سرمد — Original source
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said that current conditions point to the possibility of renewed war in the region, noting that Iraq lost approximately $60 billion due to the halt of oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz.
Hussein added, in an interview with Al Jazeera news channel, that Iraq resumed oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz following understandings reached with Washington and Tehran. He clarified that the United States formally requested Baghdad to close all border crossings with Iran except for two.
Regarding relations with Tehran, Hussein affirmed that Baghdad had informed Iran of its acceptance of friendship and alliance with it, but that it rejects Iranian interference in Iraqi affairs. He revealed that his country possesses information regarding the use of Iraqi territory by external actors to launch attacks on neighboring states.
On the file of monopolizing weapons in the hands of the state, the Iraqi Foreign Minister stressed the necessity of addressing this issue through dialogue rather than armed confrontation, noting that the Prime Minister had reached understandings with four factions regarding weapons.
He explained that the Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq and Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada factions had agreed to regulate weapons, while negotiations remain ongoing with the Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba and Kata’ib Hezbollah on the matter. He pointed out that Baghdad is maintaining communications with Iran concerning the weapons file of Iraqi factions.
Regarding the security situation on the border with Syria, Hussein noted the presence of groups affiliated with the Islamic State on the Syrian side of the border with Iraq, stating that a quadrilateral committee comprising Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey is working to combat the group in Syria.
He added that Iraq is taking military action along the Syrian border to prevent the infiltration of Islamic State elements and to combat drug trafficking.
