Iraqi soil won’t be used to attack neighbors; Senior Iraqi official
“The Iraqi government will not allow using its soil against any country, including neighboring countries, which is contrary to the Iraqi constitution,” The head of Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI), Humam al-Hamoudi said to ILNA news agency in an exclusive interview.
He said that we are trying to prevent any war in the region because any conflict affects Iraq stability.
The cleric emphasized that we trust the current Iraqi Prime Minister and his political policy, so we give him the opportunity to choose the best way for our country.
Al-Hamoudi refers to Hashd al-Shaabi Forces (PMF) and said that this group is part of the Iraqi army and is under the supervision of the Iraqi Prime Minister and supports the Iraqi army.
He also described Iran-Iraq relations as extensive and deep, adding that our relations has a long history so any kind of instability in Iraq affects Iran and any issue in Iran affects Iraq.
“Iran has always voiced support for Iraq’s unity, territorial integrity and prosperity and working for joint cooperation between the two countries, while the United States are trying to impose certain people on the government and Saudis Arabia are threatening Iraq,” Humam al-Hamoudi continued.
He also stressed the need for intensifying efforts to resolve crises through a serious and constructive dialogue.
“Iraq supports any kind of dialogue. We have good relations with Iran and we also want to have a good relations with the United States,” he added. “We should keep our relations with the United States in order to continue our role in exchanging messages between Iran and America.”
He said also If Saudi economic activities become part of the program in Iraq, we accept them for their economic reasons. “The Iraqi people believe they are above the others so Saudis cannot be symbols of Arab countries.
Washington announced it was dispatching an aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East as national security advisor John Bolton warned Iran that Washington would respond with "unrelenting force" to any attack by Tehran, including by its regional allies.
Washington says it has built up the U.S. military presence in the region, accusing Tehran of threats to U.S. troops and interests. Tehran has described U.S. moves as “psychological warfare” and a “political game”.
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said in a joint news conference with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani that according to Iraq's constitution, Iraqi soil will not be allowed to be used by foreign troops or fighters to launch any attacks against Iran.
A year earlier, Iraq’s then-prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, made assurances that the Arab country would never allow the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or others to use the Iraqi territory against Iran.
Humam al-Hamoudi is one of the most important figures in Iraqi politics. He is a member of the Council of Representatives of Iraq representing the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA). Hamoudi is leader of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council.
Interview by Fariba Pajooh
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