Al-Sudani warns Israel’s strike on Iran threatens to drag region into broader war

BAGHDAD — Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Friday condemned Israel’s military strikes on Iran, warning that the timing of the attack—while diplomatic efforts were still ongoing—suggests a deliberate attempt to escalate regional tensions rather than defuse them.

In a meeting with U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Steven Fagin and Major General Kevin Leahy, commander of the International Coalition to Combat ISIS, Al-Sudani called the Israeli operation “a blatant violation of international law and an act of aggression that undermines the foundations of the international order and threatens both regional and global security.”

“The timing of the attack, while diplomatic efforts are still underway, not only weakens de-escalation efforts, but also reveals a deliberate intent to escalate and drag the region into a broader confrontation rather than prevent one,” Al-Sudani said.

The prime minister reiterated Iraq’s opposition to the use of its territory or airspace for hostile actions.

The Israeli military launched a wave of airstrikes on Iran early Friday under Operation Rising Lion, targeting sites linked to Iran’s nuclear and military programs. Iranian media reported the deaths of several senior officials, including Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces; and prominent nuclear scientists Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi.

Additional Israeli airstrikes later targeted cities including Shiraz, hitting what the Israeli military described as strategic infrastructure. The attacks have prompted fears of a broader regional conflict and led to travel advisories and aviation alerts across the Middle East.

Full statement from Al-Sudani’s office:

Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani met today, Friday, with the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Iraq, Mr. Steven Fagin, and the Commander of the International Coalition to Combat ISIS, Major General Kevin Leahy, following the dangerous developments resulting from the attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed Iraq’s firm and unequivocal position that what occurred against Iran constitutes a blatant violation of international law and an act of aggression that undermines the foundations of the international order and threatens both regional and global security. He stressed that the timing of the attack, while diplomatic efforts are still underway, not only weakens de-escalation efforts, but also reveals a deliberate intent to escalate and drag the region into a broader confrontation rather than prevent one.

Prime Minister Al-Sudani reiterated Iraq’s categorical rejection of the use of its territory or airspace to carry out or facilitate any acts of aggression against neighboring countries. He emphasized Iraq’s sovereign right and responsibility to protect its territory and affirmed that the Iraqi government will take all necessary legal measures in this regard. He also called on all international parties to respect this principle.

The Prime Minister further stressed the urgent need for the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to take responsible and immediate steps to reaffirm the prohibition on the use of force and to act to prevent the region from sliding into uncontrolled violence.

The U.S. Chargé d’Affaires and the Coalition Commander affirmed the United States’ stated position of non-involvement in the attack in any form and expressed their country’s commitment to keeping Iraq out of the conflict, in accordance with the Strategic Framework Agreement signed between the two countries.

Media Office of the Prime Minister
June 13, 2025