Al-Araji, US envoy discuss security, regional stability in Baghdad meeting

BAGHDAD — National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji met with Joshua Harris, the U.S. Embassy’s chargé d’affaires in Baghdad, on Sunday to discuss security and political conditions in Iraq and the wider region, according to a statement from al-Araji’s media office.

“The Iraqi government is making significant efforts to shield the country from the consequences of regional conflicts and to prevent Iraq from becoming a battleground for settling scores,” the statement quoted al-Araji as saying.

The two officials also reviewed regional and international developments and discussed the continuation of cooperation and partnership between Iraq and the United States in a manner that supports regional and global security.

Earlier this week, Joshua Harris met with Hikma Movement leader Ammar al-Hakim to discuss “the shared interests of safeguarding Iraqi sovereignty, defeating terrorism, bolstering regional security, and strengthening economic ties that deliver benefits for Americans and Iraqis,” according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

During the meeting, Harris reiterated that “the inclusion of Iran-aligned terrorist militias in the Iraqi government in any capacity is incompatible with a strong U.S.-Iraq partnership.”