Iraqi foreign minister checks on diplomats, citizens in Iran after Israeli strikes

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein held a phone call Friday with Baghdad’s ambassador to Iran to follow up on Israeli military strikes and to ensure the safety of Iraqi nationals and diplomatic staff in the country.

The Foreign Ministry said Hussein spoke with Ambassador Naseer Abdul Mohsen Abdullah in Tehran as part of ongoing efforts to monitor regional developments and “ensure the safety of the Iraqi diplomatic mission and consulate staff in Iran.”

Hussein also emphasized the need to maintain communication with the Iraqi community residing in Iran and directed diplomatic staff to “provide the necessary support under the current circumstances.”

The foreign minister urged continued coordination with Iraq’s Foreign Ministry and stressed the importance of receiving accurate updates from the ground.

The Israeli military launched a wave of airstrikes on Iran early Friday as part of Operation Rising Lion, targeting nuclear and military facilities. Among those reported killed were Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces; and prominent nuclear scientists including Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi.

Later in the day, Israeli warplanes carried out additional strikes in cities including Shiraz, hitting what the military described as strategic infrastructure. The escalation has fueled fears of broader conflict and triggered travel and aviation warnings across the region.