Iraqi FM meet new US chargé d’affaires, stress importance of ties

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein met Saturday with Joshua Harris, the new U.S. chargé d’affaires in Baghdad, where both sides emphasized “the importance of good relations between Iraq and the United States and ways to strengthen them in various fields,” according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Talks also touched on the operations of American companies in Iraq, with both sides underlining “the need to create a suitable environment for their work in a way that serves mutual interests,” the ministry said. They also discussed regional issues, including the situation in Syria and stalled U.S.–Iran negotiations.

Also on Saturday, Prime Minister Al-Sudani met Saturday with Harris. Al-Sudani “emphasized the importance of the strategic bilateral relationship between Iraq and the United States, and the need to strengthen joint coordination and expand cooperation across various fields,” the statement said.

Statement from Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Fuad Hussein, received on Saturday, September 6, 2025, in Baghdad, the new U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, Mr. Joshua Harris.

The Minister congratulated Mr. Harris on assuming his new duties, wishing him success in his upcoming work.

During the meeting, emphasis was placed on the importance of good relations between Iraq and the United States, and ways to strengthen them in various fields. The activities of American companies operating in Iraq were also discussed, especially during the recent period, where the need to create a suitable environment for their work in a way that serves mutual interests was stressed.

The two sides also addressed the importance of continuing and developing security cooperation in the current and coming stages, in addition to discussing financial and oil-related files between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government, with reference to the recent understandings reached with the American oil companies operating in the Region.

The meeting also touched on the situation in Syria, where it was emphasized that cooperation is necessary to support stability there, and the importance of involving representatives of all Syrian components in the political process to ensure achieving a state of societal stability.

During the meeting, the issue of the suspended negotiations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America was also addressed.