Iraq tells US it will pursue attackers of diplomatic missions as officials meet on regional tensions

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s deputy foreign minister told the U.S. chargé d’affaires Friday that Baghdad will pursue those responsible for attacks on diplomatic missions and bring them to justice, during talks focused on rising security tensions and recent military developments.

Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed Hussein Bahr al-Uloom met U.S. chargé d’affaires Joshua Harris at the Foreign Ministry on March 13 to discuss “the recent military and security developments and their repercussions in Iraq and the region,” according to a ministry statement.

Bahr al-Uloom warned that the continuation of the war poses a serious threat to Iraq’s stability and sovereignty, saying it risks “dragging the country deeper into regional confrontation and endangering civilians and infrastructure.” He said Iraq “continues to be subjected to direct attacks on various areas of the country, including the Kurdistan Region,” citing strikes in Baghdad, Kirkuk, Anbar and Babil that killed 14 fighters and wounded 24 others — describing them as “a blatant violation of its sovereignty.”

He reaffirmed Baghdad’s commitment to protecting diplomatic missions under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, saying authorities will pursue those responsible for targeting diplomatic facilities and strengthen protection measures for diplomatic compounds.

Harris reiterated Washington’s commitment to its “strategic partnership with Iraq” and said the U.S. seeks to strengthen cooperation through “capacity building, armament and technical and logistical support.” He said “the war of the United States is only with Iran,” describing American policy as involving “limited, focused and defensive responses to any threat to its interests and facilities.” Harris welcomed Iraqi measures to protect diplomatic facilities and called for further efforts to secure missions in Baghdad and Erbil.

The meeting came as Iraq continues to face security pressure linked to the regional conflict that began Feb. 28. Earlier this month, the U.S. Embassy urged American citizens in Iraq to leave “as soon as safely possible,” warning that Iran and Iran-aligned groups “continue to pose a significant threat to public safety.”