Iran assures Iraq it won’t use Iraqi territory to attack Israel, says foreign minister

BAGHDAD – Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein says Iran has assured Iraq it will not use its territory to launch attacks on Israel, as Iraq ramps up diplomatic efforts to prevent the regional conflict from spreading within its borders.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Hussein addressed concerns over potential Iranian military activity targeting Israel from Iraq, emphasizing that Tehran had explicitly denied such intentions.

“When the question of Iran possibly exploiting Iraqi soil to target Israel was raised, the Iranian side firmly rejected the claim,” Hussein said. “Iran’s position was clear and unequivocal in assuring Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani that no attacks would originate from Iraqi territory.”

Hussein’s remarks follow a report from Axios suggesting that Iran might attack Israel using Iraqi soil in the coming days. Iraq has denied these claims, with Hussein reiterating that Baghdad remains committed to preventing its territory from being used for aggression against neighboring countries.

Hussein also expressed concerns about the risks posed by the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, warning that prolonged hostilities could ignite broader regional wars.

“We have repeatedly stated that the prolongation of this war could lead to other wars. The war in Gaza led to the outbreak of hostilities in Lebanon. Now, if the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon persist, they will likely expand to other regions,” he cautioned.

He emphasized the threat posed to global stability, calling for regional and international cooperation to halt the fighting. “Expanding the scope of war endangers regional and global security and stability. We need a collaborative effort to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon,” Hussein said.

Hussein also highlighted Iraq’s geographical vulnerability amid escalating military exchanges between Israel and Iran, including missile and drone attacks.

“Iraq lies within the geographical area of this conflict. Ongoing attacks and counterattacks on Iran imply that Iraqi territory and airspace may risk becoming part of the conflict zone, which is why we issue this warning,” he said.

Hussein affirmed Iraq’s resolve to safeguard its security and shield the nation from being drawn into the regional conflict. “Our priority is to prevent any attacks on Iraq and to keep Iraq away from the anticipated state of war. We are actively engaging with various capitals to deter any attacks on Iraq and keep the war away from Iraqi land and airspace,” he said.