Baghdad: Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein met today with the new US Charg© d’Affaires, Ambassador Steven Fagin, to discuss the tightened sanctions on Iran and their potential repercussions for Iraq. A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that Hussein received the new US Charg© d’Affaires to the Republic of Iraq, Steven Fagin, in Baghdad, in the presence of Deputy Chief of Mission Arne Nutinen and Senior Advisor Ali Hassoun.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Minister welcomed Ambassador Fagin and his accompanying delegation at the beginning of the meeting, wishing him success in his duties. The meeting addressed developments in the Iraqi political landscape, the progress of government formation, and the political and security situation, including the steps being taken by the Iraqi government to consolidate weapons under state control. The two sides also discussed the Iraqi political movement and the Prime Minister’s upcoming foreign visits, within the framework of Iraq’s foreign relations and its keenness to strengthen communication with its regional and international partners.

For his part, the US Charg© d’Affaires congratulated the Foreign Minister on his reappointment in the new government. The statement explained that the two sides exchanged views on Iraq’s relations with the Gulf states and neighboring countries in the post-Iranian war era, and the repercussions of that war and subsequent developments on regional conditions and relations. They also discussed a number of regional issues and developments of mutual interest, addressing visions for the future of regional coordination and potential forms of communication and coordination among the countries of the region, contributing to strengthening stability and addressing common challenges.

On the economic front, the Foreign Minister pointed to Iraq’s vulnerability to the repercussions of the war in the region and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. He explained that the Iraqi economy relies primarily on oil exports and the associated revenues, making oil exports susceptible to regional developments. He further explained that the two sides also discussed the new and tightened US economic sanctions. The sanctions imposed on Iran, and their potential repercussions for Iraq, particularly in light of the existing trade ties and relations between the two countries.