Iraq has lost around $60 billion in revenue since the start of the war between Iran and the United States, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi said, noting that despite Iraq considering itself a regional partner of Iran, Tehran has not allowed Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
اضافة اعلان
Speaking to The New York Times, Al-Zaidi said, “We spoke at length. The decision coming from Iran is firm,” adding that Iran’s goal was to drive up global oil prices. “It is not about whether we are close to them or not. Regardless, they want to exert pressure.”
As part of efforts to reach an agreement with Turkey, Al-Zaidi said Iraq had used its efforts to strengthen economic ties with Ankara. He noted that Iraq had agreed this year to a one-year deal to increase oil exports to Turkey through an existing Iraqi pipeline, while Baghdad is currently seeking to expand the pipeline’s capacity.
He added that during visits to France and Germany last week, he presented plans to build pipelines through Turkey to transport Iraqi oil directly to Europe.
Bringing Weapons Under State Control
On domestic affairs, Al-Zaidi said the process of bringing weapons under state control would begin with a 90-day period during which armed factions would refrain from attacks and would not be targeted by US forces.
He said the government wants to build economic links and bridges between Iraq and countries around the world.
“Bringing weapons under state control in Iraq is not optional; it is a necessity,” Al-Zaidi said, stressing that the issue, along with combating corruption, was “a matter of honor” for him.
He added that Iraq, the world’s third-largest oil supplier, had lost 60% of its monthly oil export revenues because of the US-Iran war, which disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
“We want to build economic bridges and links between Iraq and countries around the world. Under this government, Iraq will be a meeting point, not a point of hostility,” he said.
Al-Zaidi stressed that weapons must first be brought under state control “so that we can build a strong economy.” He said the terms of the agreement with armed factions on disarmament and its timetable would be announced on September 30.
The process will begin with a 90-day period during which armed factions will refrain from launching attacks, while US forces will not target them. The factions would then begin surrendering their weapons, with the disarmament process scheduled to be completed by June 30, 2027.
Al-Zaidi said his objective was for these factions to cease operating as independent entities. Their members, he said, would join the Popular Mobilization Forces individually and be integrated into the force.
After the deadline, any groups continuing to operate under the names of armed factions would be considered outlawed, he said.
