Iran poses no threat to US, foreign representatives in Iraq: PM
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi said on Tuesday that Baghdad has no information "that could constitute a threat to anyone," as tensions continue to flare between the United States and Iran. His comments came just hours before Washington ordered the withdrawal of all non-essential staff from its missions across the country.
Speaking to reporters at his weekly press conference in Baghdad on Tuesday night, the PM said Iraq is working behind the scenes to ease US-Iran tensions.
"We check with all the armed forces, Hashd al-Shaabi, Peshmerga. We check the information that every side has. As of now we haven't recorded serious movements that could constitute a threat to anyone," Abdul-Mahdi told reporters on Tuesday night.
"Even with that, the government reiterates that its duty is to protect everyone. It doesn't want any assault against whosoever is here, against any component, embassy or anyone who has a contract with Iraq and works in Iraq," he said.
"Iraq isn't the soil of rivalry. Iraq is the land of consensus. We also don't want Iraq to be the launchpad to attack anyone. These two things, these two equations are interlinked. We don't accept Iraq being the soil of transgression," the PM added.
The US State Department ordered all non-essential government employees to leave the country on Wednesday. The statement was directed at its embassy in Baghdad and consulate in Erbil. The consulate in Basra implemented similar steps in September.
America's British allies did not share the same concerns, however. Maj. Gen. Chris Ghika, a deputy commander of the international coalition to defeat Islamic State (ISIS), told Pentagon reporters from Baghdad via teleconference on Tuesday: "There has been no increased threat from Iranian-backed forces in Iraq and Syria."
The British military has not seen any change in the "posture or lay-down" of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) - Hashd al-Shaabi.
The PMF is a Shiite paramilitia which is officially part of the Iraqi defense apparatus. Many of its components are closely tied to Iran and some fought against US forces during the post-2003 occupation.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) quickly rebuffed the British general, stressing it had solid intelligence indicating an Iranian threat.
"Recent comments from OIR's Deputy Commander run counter to the identified credible threats available to intelligence from US and allies regarding Iranian backed forces in the region," read a CENTCOM statement published May 14.
"US Central Command, in coordination with Operation Inherent Resolve, has increased the force posture level for all service members assigned to OIR in Iraq and Syria."
Operation Inherent Resolve is "at a high level of alert" and is monitoring "credible and possible imminent threats" to US forces in Iraq.
In his press conference, Abdul-Mahdi said Iraq is trying to mediate between its Iranian and American allies to prevent an escalation into open conflict.
"We are contacting both sides. Both sides are considered friends of Iraq. We consider them and they consider themselves friends to Iraq. Both sides don't want a war. Frankly they always stress that they don't want war," he said.
"The region will pay a heavy price. All sides will pay a dear price. Iraq will pay a dear price. That is why Iraq is putting a lot of effort into this," he added.
Tensions between Iran and the US have been rising since US President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in May 2018, calling the agreement one sided and claiming it did not go far enough to curb Iran's nuclear program or rein in its regional activities.
It has since imposed sanctions on Iran's economy, particularly its oil sector, in an attempt to strip the Iranian regime of access to foreign currency.
Turning up the heat further, Washington designated Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist organisation. Tehran responded by designating CENTCOM as a terror group, leading to fears US forces and personnel in the region could become targets.
In the latest escalation, the US has deployed warships to the Persian Gulf. Washington has accused Iran or its proxies of sabotaging ships operating in the region, allegations Tehran strongly denies.
Tehran reportedly has begun implementing steps on Tuesday to allow it to halt its commitments to the nuclear deal.