Iraqi prime minister says ‘no evidence’ attacks on Gulf states originated from Iraq

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi said there is “no evidence” that attacks against Gulf countries originated from Iraqi territory, while reaffirming that Baghdad will not allow its land to be used to target neighboring states.

In an interview with the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper published Monday evening, Zaidi discussed a host of issues, including restricting weapons to state control, combating corruption, economic reforms and Iraq’s foreign relations.

He said all security force commanders had been instructed to prevent any attempt to use Iraqi territory to launch attacks against neighboring countries.

“We will not accept dictates from outside our borders, neither from the East nor the West. Iraq’s decision belongs to its people,” he said.

“After visiting the United States, we have working visits scheduled to Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Iran,” he said.

Regional tensions escalated when the US and Israel launched attacks against Tehran in February, killing more than 3,000 people, according to Iranian officials. Tehran retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US bases.

Several Gulf states also came under attacks that they say were launched by Iran-backed armed factions in Iraq.

Zaidi said Iraq will hold a national conference later this year to reinforce the state monopoly of weapons. “There is no place for weapons outside the state, and we will not accept the existence of a state within a state,” he said.

He added that the government has already received weapons from Saraya Al-Islam, Asaib Ahl Al-Haq and Kataib Al-Imam Ali armed groups.

“The most important step is not merely handing over weapons, but severing the link between the armed faction and the fighters under its command.

“We believe resistance is a necessity, not a profession. That necessity no longer exists, and we will not accept a state within a state,” he said.

Zaidi announced Sept. 21 as a final deadline for armed factions to surrender their weapons to the authorities.

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Government spokesman Haider Al-Aboudi said Monday that the deadline coincides with the withdrawal of the US-led international coalition forces from Iraq under an agreement reached two years ago.