Iraq refuses U.S. request for sanctions on Iranian airlines: “We don’t want to be part of this conflict”

Baghdad considers itself a “victim” of the U.S.–Iran war and does not accept the American request to impose sanctions on Iranian airlines. The statement was made on Thursday in Washington by Iraq’s foreign minister, Fuad Hussein, who was holding meetings with Treasury and State Department officials, as the New York Post reports.

“Iraq became a victim of this war — we, Iraq,” Hussein told a small group of journalists at the Iraqi embassy. “Our economy became a victim, but so did our people. We have been attacked many times by different countries in this conflict.” He added that Baghdad “does not want to be part of this conflict”, but is ready to help mediate if asked.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is leading the “Operation Economic Outcast” campaign to cut Tehran’s trade ties with the world and increase pressure on Iran, but the Iraqi diplomat expressed resistance to closing the airlines that make up an important source of revenue. “Most of the visitors from Iran to Iraq come to the holy sites,” Hussein said, estimating that around 5 million Iranian Shia pilgrims visit Iraq every year, while around 3 million Iraqi pilgrims go to Iran. “This is one of the most sensitive issues for us, because it concerns holy sites. It would create big problems, because in the end it is about religious matters.”

The statements come a day after President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, after more than two decades of presence. Hussein blamed both sides for drawing Iraq into the more than seven-month war: “Iraq has been attacked by the countries in conflict — for a time the Americans attacked Iraq, but the Iranians also attacked Iraq.” He also noted that 2.5 to 2.6 million barrels of Iraqi oil a day are passing through the Strait of Hormuz “with the help of the Americans — and we are grateful to them”, while a fifth Iran-backed militia group has agreed to disarm by next summer, leaving only two holdout groups.