Iraq’s FM: Iran is Not Seeking War, But Ready for Any Potential Attack

Tehran - BORNA - Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein told the news outlets Al Hadath and Al Arabiya today (Tuesday): "Iran is not seeking war but is ready for any potential attack."

The Iraqi Foreign Minister pointed out that Israeli threats persist in Iraq and noted that Iraq maintains continuous contact with Syria due to their shared border and common experience regarding the issue of terrorism.

Hussein emphasized that Baghdad's relations with Damascus are transparent and stressed that Iraq does not interfere in Syria's internal affairs.

He also stated: "Among the countries in the region, we have suffered the most damage from regional tensions."

Security Measures and Border Cooperation

Iraq adopted strict security measures along its border strip with Syria following an attack on US and Syrian forces in the city of Tadmur, in which two US soldiers and one translator were killed, and three other soldiers were injured. CENTCOM (US Central Command) later announced that the perpetrator of the attack was an armed individual affiliated with the terrorist group ISIS.

Iraq implemented these security measures due to increasing concerns over the potential spillover of the attack's consequences, given the shared border areas and ISIS's history of activity in the country. In recent months, Iraqi forces have launched extensive search operations in the country's desert regions after ISIS activities were monitored by a drone.

Damascus hosted a meeting on Monday between Qutaiba Badawi, Head of the Syrian General Directorate of Crossings and Customs, and an Iraqi delegation led by Sami Abdul Hussein Radhi, Advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister. The meeting aimed to discuss ways to strengthen border crossings and cooperation between the two countries.

The discussion also covered mechanisms for the quickest possible opening of the Al-Walid border crossing, in addition to measures taken by the Syrian Directorate of Crossings and Customs to establish a new crossing in the Al-Bukamal region to replace the current one.

Furthermore, the two sides reviewed mechanisms to strengthen activities at the Syrian-Iraqi border crossings to facilitate the passage of travelers, the movement of goods, and enhance trade exchanges, which would positively impact transport and trade and align with mutual economic interests. Syria and Iraq reopened the Al-Bukamal crossing on June 14.

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