Iraq and US Must Re-Engage in Dialogue on Coalition Force Future, Says Iraqi Foreign Minister

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein expressed the importance of returning to negotiations regarding the future of the U.S.-led international military coalition in Iraq during a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. This communication occurred on Tuesday and was detailed in a statement from the Iraqi foreign ministry.

Negotiations began in January, but soon after, the discussions were halted following an attack in Jordan that killed three U.S. service members. This attack was attributed to Iran-backed militant groups believed to be operating in Syria and Iraq.

In response to the attack in Jordan, the U.S. military conducted airstrikes on Friday against over 85 targets in Iraq and Syria associated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and its allied militias.

During his conversation with Blinken, Hussein emphasized that the Iraqi government opposes such military actions, asserting that “Iraq is not an arena for settling scores between rival countries.”

Currently, approximately 2,500 U.S. troops remain in Iraq, primarily focused on advising and assisting local forces to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State, which had captured significant territory in Iraq and Syria before being repelled. Additionally, troops from various European nations contribute to the coalition efforts.

While the Iraqi government claims that the Islamic State has been defeated and suggests that the coalition’s mission is complete, a full U.S. withdrawal could raise concerns in Washington regarding Iran’s influence over Iraq’s leadership.

Iraq is also interested in fostering bilateral relations with coalition members, including potential military cooperation in areas such as training and equipment.

Furthermore, Hussein has formally requested that the U.S. Treasury Department reassess the sanctions imposed on several Iraqi banks. He questioned whether these measures were based on compliance matters or influenced by “other political reasons.” In July, the U.S. restricted 14 Iraqi banks from participating in dollar transactions as part of a broader initiative to address the illicit use of U.S. currency.