US Sayas It Won’t Work With Iranian-Installed Government in Iraq

(MENAFN) US officials are reiterating that they do not believe an Iraqi government shaped by Iranian influence would succeed or support broader regional goals, according to official remarks.

Speaking on Monday, US Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack cautioned that Washington would be unable to work productively with such an administration.

“On Iraq, the US position remains clear: a government installed by Iran will not be successful, neither for Iraqi or Syrian aspirations for a brighter future, nor for an effective partnership with the United States,” Barrack wrote on the US social media company X’s platform.

The statement followed what Barrack described as a productive phone conversation with Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in northern Iraq. Their discussion focused on developments in Syria and the importance of preserving the ceasefire between Damascus and the YPG/SDF armed group.

Barrack also highlighted the need to ensure that humanitarian aid is delivered to civilians in Ayn al-Arab in Aleppo province. He has previously stressed that Iraq forming a government committed to cooperation with neighboring states and Western partners is vital for long-term regional stability and economic well-being.

The Ayn al-Arab district continues to be held by the YPG/SDF, while Damascus recently extended its ceasefire with the group by an additional 15 days, according to reports.

Barrack’s outreach came shortly after a separate phone call between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. During that conversation, the two reviewed Iraq’s ongoing efforts to form a new government and emphasized a shared desire for the country to fulfill its potential “as a force for stability, prosperity, and security in the Middle East,” as stated by officials.

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