Interview: Iraq's Foreign Minister Urges US, Iran Back To Talks

WASHINGTON -- As the conflict between the United States and Iran reverberates across the region, Iraq is facing growing pressure from the war's economic and security fallout, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein told RFE/RL in Washington.

Iraq has been hit by attacks, disruptions to oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, and the risk of being drawn deeper into a confrontation between Washington and Tehran. Hussein said Baghdad wants the United States and Iran to return to negotiations and is prepared to facilitate talks if both sides approach Iraq.

At the same time, Hussein described the end of the US military mission in Iraq as “a new chapter” in Iraqi sovereignty and in the relationship between Baghdad and Washington, saying the two countries plan to strengthen ties.

RFE/RL: After two decades, the US military mission in Iraq has ended. What does this historic moment mean for Iraq?

Fuad Hussein: It is a new page in our political situation, because the Americans were there from 2003 in Baghdad. I am talking about Baghdad until 2011. Then they left, and because of the attacks of the terrorists and [Islamic State, also known as ISIS] terrorist groups, once again the Americans came back -- but not only the Americans. Many allies came back to Iraq to fight and destroy the terrorist organization. We worked together. We fought together. We are, in the first place, thankful to the American people, to the American government, and to other allies who were with us when we were in need, and we fought together, we destroyed ISIS.

So this is important in our history. And now they left. That doesn't mean we are going to have a different policy, different relationship. We are going to strengthen our relationship with the United States, but in different other fields, of course: economy, energy, political. But also, we are planning to start discussions with the American side, so that we can have a security agreement on a bilateral level.

'New Chapter In Iraq’s Sovereignty'

RFE/RL: Does this mark a new chapter in Iraq’s sovereignty, or is it a new security test?

Hussein: No, no. It marks a new chapter in Iraqi sovereignty, and it marks a new chapter also in our relationship with the United States.

RFE/RL: You have called for dialogue and diplomacy. Can diplomacy still deliver peace in the Middle East?

Hussein: I think every war must end, and when we are talking about the end of the war, that means going back to diplomacy. Actually, diplomacy must be the right channel to solve the problem. The current conflict in the Gulf, the war between the United States and Iran, must end...and we don't have an alternative except to have the diplomatic channels.

SEE ALSO:

RFE/RL: How concerned are you that the conflict between the United States and Iran could spread further across the region.

Hussein: It has already become a wider conflict. It is not only a conflict in Iran or a conflict between the United States and Iran, but Iraq has suffered a lot, and we became, in fact, the victim of this conflict.

Economically, we are a victim because of the fact that the Strait of Hormuz for a while has been closed, so we couldn't export our oil. Nowadays, we are doing that, but still we are worried about what's going on around the Strait of Hormuz.

But also, we have been attacked. Iraq has been attacked by the countries in conflict many times. So we hope that this conflict will end, and there will be peace in that region.

RFE/RL: You speak with Tehran regularly. What is Iran telling you about its willingness to negotiate?

Hussein: Of course, we are in discussion with the Iranian side...[and] the American side, and other countries. It is a topic which is important for us. It is a topic which has to do with us in the end.

So we are encouraging all these countries to come back to the negotiation table and to solve the problem through negotiation. And when we were in New York, during the [UN] General Assembly meetings, there was a round of talks between the Iranian side and the Americans, and we were very happy with those talks. But unfortunately, once again, they didn't reach an agreement.

RFE/RL: Is Baghdad prepared to mediate directly between Washington and Tehran?

Hussein: To mediate both sides, they must ask you. They must approach you. Anyhow, if we will be approached, we are ready.

RFE/RL: Do you believe Iraq is in a better position now to arrange meetings between the two sides?

Hussein: I think Iraq is in an excellent position to arrange meetings between both sides. But we need, in the first place, that both sides are going to approach us.

'We Don’t Want To Be Part Of The War'

RFE/RL: US President Donald Trump says Iran's latest proposal is not enough. What does Iraq believe both sides must do now?

Hussein: I don't want to intervene in neither international politics in the United States nor internal politics in Iran. But what we want is that if these two countries come together and solve their problems through negotiation.

RFE/RL: President Trump has also said military operations could resume. If that happens, what would it mean for Iraq?

SEE ALSO:

Hussein: Once again, I think these kinds of problems will not be solved through military actions. We are not supporting the idea of the war, and...we don't want to be part of the war.

There is a reason for that. You see, we, the Iraqis, we suffered a lot from wars. The Iraqi government at that time, during [former leader] Saddam [Hussein], was at war with many countries, and as a result of wars, the Iraqi infrastructure has been destroyed. There are thousands of Iraqis who have been lost and killed during war.

So we can say that two generations, three generations, have been born during the wars, and they have been educated by war culture. So we, in principle, we are against war. In principle, we don't like to have war. And, of course, we want to protect our country from war.

So we don't want to be part of any war. That's why we are repeating and repeating and saying that conflicts can be solved through negotiation and not through using military means.

RFE/RL: You mentioned the Strait of Hormuz, which remains critical to Iraq. What is Baghdad doing to protect its oil exports?

Hussein: At this moment -- and this is since about two, three weeks -- we were able to export our oil, so we are happy about that. But really, we are worried if once again war will start, and the Strait of Hormuz will be full of military operations that will forbid exporting our oil, and that will create a huge problem.

The Iraqi economy is depending heavily on oil income, and if we cannot export our oil, that means less income for our country, and that will create a huge problem for us.

RFE/RL: Can Iraq prevent Iranian-backed armed groups inside the country from pulling it into another regional war?

Hussein: There is negotiation now between my prime minister and those groups, and we have reached a good understanding with various armed groups. And they announced that they will support the plan of the government.

In this case, there are two other groups that didn't announce that, so we hope that we can solve this problem through talks with the leaders of these groups.