[Rudaw] Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi said on Tuesday that Baghdad has no information "that could constitute a threat to anyone," as tensions continue to flare between the United States and Iran. His comments came just hours before Washington ordered the withdrawal of all non-essential staff from its missions across the country. Speaking to news hounds at his weekly presser in Baghdad on Tuesday night, the PM said Iraq is working behind the scenes to ease US-Iran tensions.
"We check with all the armed forces, Hashd al-Shaabi, Peshmerga. We check the information that every side has. As of now we haven't recorded serious movements that could constitute a threat to anyone," Abdul-Mahdi told news hounds on Tuesday night.
"Even with that, the government reiterates that its duty is to protect everyone. It doesn't want any assault against whosoever is here, against any component, embassy or anyone who has a contract with Iraq and works in Iraq," he said.
"Iraq isn't the soil of rivalry. Iraq is the land of consensus. We also don't want Iraq to be the launchpad to attack anyone. These two things, these two equations are interlinked. We don't accept Iraq being the soil of transgression," the PM added.
The US State Department ordered all non-essential
In his presser, Abdul-Mahdi said Iraq is trying to mediate between its Iranian and American allies to prevent an escalation into open conflict.
| The Jerusalem Post adds: |
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
and Israel.