Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi confirmed that his government is continuing to strengthen cooperation with Syria, stressing that Baghdad will not allow its territory to be used to target neighboring countries, at a time when investigations continue into the recent attacks that targeted Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Al-Zaidi said, in an interview with Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath channels, that Iraq views Syria as a neighboring country, expressing his desire to expand economic cooperation with it, and announcing his intention to pay a visit to Damascus.
Regarding security developments in the region, he stressed that his government would deter any action targeting neighboring countries, stressing that there were no indications of launching attacks against Saudi Arabia or the UAE from Iraqi territory.
He added that the Iraqi authorities continue to investigate the recent attacks that targeted the two countries, to determine their circumstances.
Regarding the economic file, Al-Zaidi confirmed that Iraq will not withdraw from OPEC, but is seeking to obtain a fair production share, in line with its oil interests.
He also expressed his confidence in his government’s ability to resolve the outstanding issues with the Kurdistan region.
The Iraqi Prime Minister’s statements come in light of the escalation of regional tension after the American strikes that targeted sites inside Iran, and the Iranian response by targeting American bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, amid fears of a widening confrontation in the region. In this context, Baghdad is trying to maintain a policy of balance, by preventing the use of its lands in any regional conflict, in parallel with strengthening its relations with neighboring countries and supporting regional stability.
