ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The representative of Iraq’s highest Shiite religious authority on Thursday urged Iraqis to be cautious because the country is not immune to the consequences of regional tensions as a United States-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Iran appears to be holding.
“The current circumstances that the region is going through are extremely dangerous, and the Iraqi people are not immune to the repercussions of the conflict, sooner or later,” said Sheikh Abdul Mahdi al-Karbalai, official spokesperson for Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraqi state media reported.
“Iraqis must arm themselves with awareness and insight in dealing with the serious challenges in the region and passing through the current phase,” he said. “They must strive to build their country on sound foundations.”
Regional tensions remain high as a truce appears to be holding between Israel and Iran, ending 12 days of conflict. Iraq, which is close to Iran and hosts US forces, has expressed concern that further escalation could undermine its fragile post-war recovery.
Sistani’s office condemned the initial Israeli airstrikes that triggered the conflict, calling them a “criminal act,” and urged the international community to prevent further bloodshed. The airstrikes killed more than 600 Iranians, including several military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians, including women and children. Sistani’s office said the attacks demonstrated the “dangerous and aggressive nature” of Israel’s conduct.
Twenty-eight people were killed by Iran’s strikes on Israel.
During the conflict last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not rule out the assassination of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, claiming that his death could end the conflict.
US President Donald Trump also made inflammatory remarks against Iran and Khamenei, calling the leader an “easy target,” though he clarified that there are no current plans to assassinate him.
Sistani at the time warned against any attempt to target Iran’s “supreme religious and political leadership,” saying it would have grave consequences for the entire region.
Regarding the possibility that the conflict between Israel and Iran could be reignited, Trump told reporters in The Hague on Wednesday after attending a NATO summit that "It can start again. I guess someday it can. It could maybe start soon.”
