Iraq's FM: We are in touch with the US, Iran to reduce tensions

Andrew Parasiliti

Feb 12, 2023

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein speak to the media prior to a meeting, in the Treaty Room of the US State Department in Washington, DC, on February 9, 2023. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein speak to the media prior to a meeting, in the Treaty Room of the US State Department, Washington, Feb. 9, 2023. — Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

WASHINGTON — "It’s no secret that I am in touch with both Iranian and American officials,” said Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, in an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor in Washington on Sunday.

“Both sides trust us, and that’s a good thing,” said Hussein. “It’s in Iraq’s interest that there be less tension between Washington and Tehran."

Hussein is in Washington as head of an Iraqi delegation to the United States, which includes acting Central Bank Gov. Ali al-Allaq, for the first-ever economic focused Higher Coordinating Committee of the US-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement.

Iran, not surprisingly, is also on the agenda.

Iraq's FM: We are in touch with the US, Iran to reduce tensions

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Fuad Hussein discusses US-Iraq economic relations, regional economic integration and sanctions on Russia and Iran.

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