Baghdad: Parliament Speaker Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani and the new US Charg© d’Affaires in Iraq, Joshua Harris, emphasized the necessity of keeping Iraq detached from regional conflicts during their recent meeting. The Parliament Speaker’s office released a statement detailing the meeting, which took place at Al-Mashhadani’s official office on Tuesday, where they exchanged ideas and explored frameworks for strategic cooperation between the United States and Iraq.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Al-Mashhadani highlighted that Iraq’s security and economic growth are interlinked, and achieving stability involves supporting the national economy and youth employment by activating the private sector and encouraging American companies to enter the Iraqi market. He asserted that the post-election phase demands authentic partnerships to enhance economic and political ties and strengthen Iraq’s sovereignty and national unity, focusing on government efficiency and the principle of citizenship as the foundation of development.
Joshua Harris commended Iraq’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and assured that the United States is committed to collaborating with the Iraqi government and its people after the forthcoming elections. He stated that the US-Iraqi partnership offers a strategic opportunity to forge a new chapter of cooperation rooted in mutual interests, particularly in energy investments such as natural gas, diversifying electricity sources, and expanding investment projects tangibly.
The discussion also covered foreign relations and the critical need to shield Iraq from regional conflicts. Both parties agreed that US investments and economic partnerships should contribute to building a robust government and a citizen-led state, fostering efficiency and national unity while maintaining security stability, economic prosperity, and good neighborliness.
The meeting concluded with the acknowledgment that achieving these shared visions requires dedicated fieldwork and ongoing engagements with the Iraqi government to bolster bilateral cooperation. This would lay the groundwork for a long-term strategic partnership between Iraq and the United States, founded on mutual respect, national sovereignty, and common interests.