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Iraq
Iraqi ambassador to Russia Haidar Mansour Hadi (L) gives a lecture on Iraqi-Russian relations at the Valdai International Discussion Club in Moscow, September 19, 2019. Photo: Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraq is not discussing the purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system, Iraq’s ambassador to Russia told Rudaw on Thursday, following rumors Baghdad is in the market for such a system to counter recent Israeli airstrikes on Iraqi territory.
“There haven’t been and there aren’t any discussions or consultations between the Iraqi government and the Russian government concerning the acquisition of S-400 weapons,” the Iraqi ambassador said.
During a lecture at the Valdai International Discussion Club on Iraq-Russia relations in Moscow on Thursday, the Iraqi ambassador said Baghdad is eager to maintain its cooperation with Russia.
“Diplomatic relations between Iraq and Russia are an advanced model in diplomatic cooperation and understandings concerning regional and international decision,” Hadi said, according to a statement released by the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.
“There is military cooperation between Iraq and Russia, a cooperation known in the media. But concerning the S-400, it is not on the table yet. Neither in the past nor now,” the ambassador added.
Hadi’s S-400 denial contradicts comments he made in mid-May, reported by Russian news agency TASS.
“As for the missile defense systems, the government has made a decision, it wants to purchase the S-400,” Hadi reportedly said at the time.
Iraq is exploring its air defense options following a rash of alleged Israeli airstrikes on Iraqi territory targeting the bases and weapons depots of the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), known in Arabic as Hashd al-Shaabi.
The attacks further risk dragging Iraq into a proxy war between the US and Iran.
Iraq could soon be in the market for an American, Chinese, or Russian-made missile system.
If Iraq does choose a Russian or Chinese model over America’s Patriot system, Baghdad could find itself in deep trouble with its US allies.
Turkey’s recent purchase of the Russian system has outraged Ankara’s NATO partners in Washington, who worry the deployment of the S-400 risks exposing sensitive information about its new F-35 fighter jets, which Turkey has helped develop.
Turkey may even face sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for buying the Russian system.
Mansour al-Bieji, a State of Law Coalition MP in the Iraqi parliament, recently said Iraq is keen on the S-400 defense system and could press ahead with its purchase even if US opposes the move.
Israel is accused of launching multiple strikes against PMF targets in recent weeks, killing at least one paramilitiaman in an alleged drone strike on a convoy in Anbar on August 25.
An explosion rocked a PMF arms depot in Saladin province on August 20, just a week after a massive blast struck the PMF’s al-Saqr military base in Baghdad.
Israel, a close US ally, has been widely blamed for the attacks.
Washington has denied having any involvement in the strikes. Although it has not openly claimed the attacks, Israel says it is willing and able to target Iranian proxies and hardware anywhere.
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