Iraq stayed out of Iran-Israel conflict through ‘political wisdom,’ says PM adviser

BAGHDAD — Iraq avoided being drawn into the recent Iran-Israel conflict through a deliberate political strategy backed by religious leadership, according to Hussein Allawi, adviser to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani.

In an interview with Dijlah TV, Allawi said the government had worked since October 7 to prevent Iraq from being pulled into regional hostilities. “The Iraqi government succeeded in keeping Iraq away from this bitter conflict since Oct. 7 and throughout the war between the Islamic Republic and the Israeli entity,” he said.

“There was an attempt to drag Iraq into this conflict,” he added, “but political wisdom managed to turn popular will into political action to prevent this slide.”

The 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel ended with a ceasefire that took effect at 7 a.m. Tuesday local time, following an Iranian missile strike on the U.S.-operated Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The strike was in retaliation for U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities two days earlier.

Excerpts from Hussein Allawi’s interview with Dijlah TV:

The Iraqi government succeeded in keeping Iraq away from this bitter conflict since October 7 and throughout the war between the Islamic Republic and the Israeli entity. There was an attempt to drag Iraq into this conflict, but political wisdom managed to turn popular will into political action to prevent this slide. This path was taken by the prime minister with the support of the supreme religious authority to lead and practice effective diplomacy, dialogue, and opposition to the aggression against Iran.

The Iraqi state has lived through 40 years of tensions and 20 years of bloodshed and sacrifices following the establishment of the democratic system. However, the past three years under Mr. Al-Sudani’s government have witnessed noticeable stability, which must be preserved, along with the development trajectory and political understandings with the State Administration Coalition and the Coordination Framework. This has positively impacted Iraq’s foreign relations with the United States and the European Union and allowed for the investment of these relations to prevent further aggression and halt the war.

The Iraqi state’s good intentions were recognized and respected by the international community and the United Nations. Likewise, the initiatives led by Iraq during moments of heightened regional tensions were respected. This reflected the societal will to reject war, which Mr. Al-Sudani translated into continuing a policy of development and investment, as well as working with influential countries to achieve security and stability in the region and within Iraq.