Baghdad, Jul 29 (AP) — For nearly two years, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has successfully kept his nation on the periphery of escalating military conflicts in the region. This delicate diplomatic balance involved managing relations with two key influences: the United States and Iran, which harbor deep-seated enmities toward each other.
He maintained this fragile balance under growing tensions. When conflict erupted between Israel, a steadfast ally of the United States, and Iran, al-Sudani faced fresh pressures as US strikes targeted Iranian nuclear facilities. Using a blend of political and military strategies, he curbed pro-Iranian factions in Iraq from becoming actively engaged. In an exclusive conversation with The Associated Press, he elaborates on his approach, his plans for managing these militias, and his aspirations for a closer association with the Trump administration while upholding relations with Iran-backed parties instrumental to his rise in 2022.
The restrained stance amid Israel-Iran hostilities. Israeli airstrikes on Iran, followed by retaliatory missile attacks on Tel Aviv, spurred factions in Iraq to attempt offensive actions against Israel and US bases in Iraq. Al-Sudani revealed that these attempts were thwarted 29 times through his government’s undisclosed security operations. "We understood Israel's strategy of expanding regional conflict," al-Sudani explained. "We ensured that Iraq was not used as a justification for escalation." His government engaged with Iranian leaders to calm tensions and encourage dialogue.
The future of US military presence uncertain. A 2022 pact between Iraq and the US outlined the phased withdrawal of coalition forces combating the Islamic State by September 2025, which now appears stalled. Al-Sudani indicated that both nations aim to meet by year's end to redefine their security arrangement. He seeks US investments in Iraq’s oil, gas, and burgeoning AI sector, pitching these as measures for regional stability and mutual prosperity.
Handling Iran-aligned militias remains challenging. Among al-Sudani's complex challenges lies the integration of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) — a largely Shiite, Iranian-influenced militia coalition formally under Iraqi military oversight since 2016 yet operationally autonomous. The Iraqi parliament is weighing legislation to strengthen this integration, prompting objections from the US, which views it as entrenching Iranian sway. Al-Sudani defended the move as a step toward state-regulated armament and accountability.
Signs of limited governmental authority. Recent drone attacks on oil sites in Iraq's Kurdish sector spotlight tensions with the PMF, suspected by regional authorities, yet Baghdad has refrained from assigning culpability. Al-Sudani decried these attacks as terrorism and affirmed collaboration with Kurdish leaders and coalition forces to address accountability. Similarly, uncertainties surround the disappearance of Israeli-Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, allegedly taken by the Kataib Hezbollah militia. Al-Sudani maintained his government’s active pursuit for her recovery, dismissing allegations of inaction.
Re-establishing ties with Syria’s new regime. Relations between Iraq and Syria's transitional government have been tentative since Syrian President Bashar Assad’s fall. With Syria's interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa — a former al-Qaida affiliate turned ISIS adversary — al-Sudani emphasizes shared opposition to ISIS. He cautioned against post-regime change turmoil experienced by Iraq, advising Syria’s leadership to maintain national unity and avoid external interventions.
Al-Sudani reiterated his support for a collective political process in Syria that includes all ethnic and religious groups, disapproving of any fragmentation or foreign intrusion, likely referring to Israeli actions. (AP)
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