Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that a strong, stable, and sovereign Iraq, free from malign influence, is vital to regional stability and the preservation of US interests and opportunities there.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Rubio added in a post on the X website that he had a valuable dialogue with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. Rubio commended Hussein’s efforts to de-escalate tensions and promote constructive dialogue in the region.