Iraq caught between two sides of the war, foreign minister tells Estonian counterpart

BAGHDAD — Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said Monday that Iraq is not a party to the war between the United States, Israel and Iran but has become one of its most affected countries, warning that further escalation could draw in Gulf states and destabilize the global energy market.

“Iraq is not a party to the war, but its geographic location makes it directly impacted by its repercussions and the associated military operations,” Hussein said during a phone call with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna.

Hussein described Iraq’s position bluntly: “Iran continues to shell various areas in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, particularly the city of Erbil, while the other side in the conflict targets sites in the south and west of the country.” He said this dual exposure increases security challenges and underscores the urgency of a ceasefire.

He warned that a broader Gulf war could remove large quantities of oil and gas from the global market, driving up energy prices and creating “major complications for the global economy in general, and the European economy in particular.”