Intel: What Iraq is doing to avoid being caught in tug of war between US and Iran
The Iraqi embassy in Washington is working overtime to avoid getting caught up in the feud between the United States and Iran.
The Iraqi embassy in Washington is working overtime to avoid getting caught up in the feud between the United States and Iran.
Speaking to reporters at the embassy mere hours after Baghdad announced the election of a new president and appointment of a new prime minister, the spokesman for Iraq’s Foreign Ministry took umbrage at Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s decision to close the US consulate in Basra. The US is blaming Iran-backed militias for rocket attacks near the compound last month.
“I’m not aware of the source of the information that Secretary Pompeo had regarding the Iranian role in the threats against the US consulate in Basra,” Mahjoub told Al-Monitor. “The United States might have wanted to send messages to regional powers after this withdrawal and we don’t want to see these messages sent via Iraq.”
Why it matters: Baghdad cannot afford to cut ties with its powerful neighbor and trading partner despite pressure from the Donald Trump administration and hardliners in Congress.
