Iraqi president tells Iranian counterpart war serves no one

BAGHDAD — Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in a phone call Friday that the continuation of the war “does not serve the interests of any country in the region,” calling for an immediate halt to military operations and a return to dialogue.

Rashid expressed solidarity with the Iranian people while also condemning attacks targeting the Kurdistan Region, telling Pezeshkian that such actions “increase tensions and do not contribute to regional stability.” He said the KRG is maintaining stability and working to prevent any use of Iraqi territory to escalate tensions or threaten neighboring countries, including Iran.

The call is notable for its directness — Rashid both expressed solidarity with Iran and explicitly condemned the missile strikes on Peshmerga forces in the same conversation, reflecting Baghdad’s attempt to hold both sides accountable while keeping diplomatic channels open.

Six Iranian ballistic missiles killed six Peshmerga fighters and wounded about 30 near Soran in Erbil governorate Tuesday, one of the deadliest single strikes on Kurdish forces since the war began Feb. 28. Iran’s IRGC and allied militias have carried out more than 300 attacks on the Kurdistan Region since the conflict began, striking military bases, diplomatic compounds, oil fields and civilian areas.