Baghdad: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Portugal has decided to reopen its embassy in Baghdad following the cessation of hostilities in the region. A ministry statement indicated that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein discussed, during a telephone call with Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel, the serious regional developments and ways to de-escalate tensions and promote calm.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Portuguese minister announced his government's full solidarity with the government and people of Iraq in the face of the challenges and attacks targeting its territory, emphasizing that the ongoing war poses a multifaceted threat, especially after its spread to other countries in the region. He indicated that the Portuguese government would work, within the framework of the European Union and perhaps in coordination with NATO, to engage with the United States to push for a ceasefire and a return to negotiations.

Hussein expressed his gratitude to the Portuguese minister and the Portuguese government for their solidarity with the Iraqi people in the face of the attacks they are enduring. He affirmed that the ongoing war has created a number of problems that could, over time, escalate into complex crises, noting that the inability to export oil or reduce its production has led to significant problems that could worsen, impacting the oil and energy market and negatively affecting the European economy. It could even contribute to problems within the United States due to rising gasoline prices.

Hussein explained, according to the statement, that the danger of the war for Iraq is not limited to attacks and breaches of security, but also extends to the potential disruption of oil exports due to military risks. In the Strait of Hormuz, this necessitates finding a genuine solution to the crisis, namely a ceasefire and a return to the diplomatic track.

The statement concluded by noting that the Portuguese Foreign Minister affirmed his country's desire to develop bilateral relations with Iraq, indicating that Portugal had decided to reopen its embassy in Baghdad following the cessation of hostilities in the region.