ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked the American embassy in Baghdad to respect Iraq’s sovereignty after the embassy issued a call for Iran to disband the Hashd al-Shaabi.
The US launched a countdown to sanctions on Iran’s oil sector, issuing daily reminders to Tehran of 12 “requirements” the Islamic Republic must fulfill to avoid sanctions ahead of the November 4 deadline.
They include items like pulling back on regional activities in conflict zones in Yemen and Syria, ending support for named terror organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas, releasing all US citizens detained in Iran, and halting its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
The messages have been shared by US embassies in both Baghdad and Damascus.
The demand published on October 31 reads: “With 6 days to go before the sanctions deadline, this is the 6th requirement for Iran’s regime to behave like a normal state: The Iranian regime must respect the sovereignty of the Iraqi government and permit the disarming, demobilization, and reintegration of Shia militias.”
Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs voiced its objection to the American statement on Saturday, saying it “goes beyond diplomatic norms.”
Pointing out that respect for sovereignty of nations is enshrined in international law, the ministry said Iraq refuses to permit any interference in its internal affairs, “especially the issues of internal security reform and the status of Iraqi security forces under the authority of the prime minister and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.”
It called on the US embassy to delete the statement and “avoid issuing such statements in the future.”
Iran is backing – through funding, arming, training, and advising – Shiite militia groups within Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), also called the Hashd al-Shaabi, formed in response to the threat of ISIS.
The PMF have been officially brought into Iraq’s national forces, putting them under the command of the prime minister, but Iran retains influence over the force.
Leaders in Baghdad have told the US and Iran not to bring their disputes onto Iraqi soil.
The US launched a countdown to sanctions on Iran’s oil sector, issuing daily reminders to Tehran of 12 “requirements” the Islamic Republic must fulfill to avoid sanctions ahead of the November 4 deadline.
They include items like pulling back on regional activities in conflict zones in Yemen and Syria, ending support for named terror organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas, releasing all US citizens detained in Iran, and halting its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
The messages have been shared by US embassies in both Baghdad and Damascus.
The demand published on October 31 reads: “With 6 days to go before the sanctions deadline, this is the 6th requirement for Iran’s regime to behave like a normal state: The Iranian regime must respect the sovereignty of the Iraqi government and permit the disarming, demobilization, and reintegration of Shia militias.”
Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs voiced its objection to the American statement on Saturday, saying it “goes beyond diplomatic norms.”
Pointing out that respect for sovereignty of nations is enshrined in international law, the ministry said Iraq refuses to permit any interference in its internal affairs, “especially the issues of internal security reform and the status of Iraqi security forces under the authority of the prime minister and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.”
It called on the US embassy to delete the statement and “avoid issuing such statements in the future.”
Iran is backing – through funding, arming, training, and advising – Shiite militia groups within Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), also called the Hashd al-Shaabi, formed in response to the threat of ISIS.
The PMF have been officially brought into Iraq’s national forces, putting them under the command of the prime minister, but Iran retains influence over the force.
Leaders in Baghdad have told the US and Iran not to bring their disputes onto Iraqi soil.
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