Sudani and Jordan’s King Abdullah discuss stopping war, freedom of navigation

BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani held a phone call Thursday with Jordan’s King Abdullah II to discuss regional developments, with both leaders stressing the need to intensify efforts to stop the war and coordinate among concerned countries to limit its regional and international fallout.

The two also emphasized “the need to make the necessary efforts to ensure freedom of navigation in accordance with international law,” and discussed economic measures to mitigate the conflict’s impact.

The call is part of Iraq’s intensifying diplomatic push since Tuesday’s emergency meeting of the Ministerial Council for National Security, which authorized a military response to airstrikes on PMF positions and directed the Foreign Ministry to file a complaint with the UN Security Council. Sudani has since spoken with French President Macron, asking Paris to support Iraq’s case as a permanent council member, and held calls with multiple regional counterparts.

The war, now in its fourth week, has pushed oil prices above $100 per barrel and effectively halted most commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, severely disrupting Iraq’s southern export terminals and threatening the country’s finances, which depend on oil for around 90 percent of government revenue.