Iraq's al-Zaidi speaks to Trump as Baghdad seeks to avoid Iran war

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has informed the United States that Baghdad will not permit its land to be utilised for strikes against neighbouring nations. This statement follows warnings from his foreign minister that a fresh conflict with Iran would be a “disaster” for Iraq.

According to his office, al-Zaidi held a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump on Thursday while diplomatic actions increase to prevent further US attacks on Iran. The two leaders “discussed the evolving situation in the region, security developments, and prospects for the next phase” during the call.

The prime minister repeated Iraq’s demand “for respect for the sovereignty of states and for Iraqi territory not to be used as a launching point for attacks against neighbouring countries”. He also highlighted the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to protect the stability and security of the region, his office reported.

Iraq has faced difficulties maintaining a balance between Iranian and US interests since President Trump started the war on Iran in February. Since becoming prime minister in May, al-Zaidi has made the disarmament of all fighter groups in the nation a priority, including various powerful pro-Iran factions that have carried out attacks in support of Iran throughout the war.

Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein informed Dijlah TV on Thursday that the possibility of renewed US military strikes against Iran is “not a secret” and cautioned Iraqi armed groups against participating in any Iranian retaliation. “Pushing Iraqi society into the war will lead to a disaster,” he said, adding that neither the Iraqi armed forces nor society are ready for conflict.

Hussein stated that Iraq has become a battlefield following US strikes on Iran, with the nation facing attacks from the US, Iran, and armed groups within Iraq. “We are not part of any axis, and we do not want to let the Iraqi arena be turned into a battlefield,” he explained, noting that the country maintains positive relations with both the US and Iran.

The war has caused Iraq to lose over $60bn in oil revenues, as approximately 90 percent of its oil exports usually travel through the Strait of Hormuz, which was largely blocked when Tehran closed the waterway. Oil provides about 90 percent of the federal budget for Iraq. Since that time, Iraq has been one of the few nations granted an exemption by Iran to move freely through the Strait of Hormuz.