Rubio Warns Iraq of Government "Controlled by Iran"

SadaNews - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned of the existence of a government in Iraq that is controlled by Iran, emphasizing that this would affect Baghdad's interests, as well as its relationship with the United States.

The U.S. State Department revealed that a phone call took place between Rubio and Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia' al-Sudani, during which they discussed relations with Iran and the detention of ISIS members in Iraqi facilities.

The State Department clarified in a statement, "Any government (in Iraq) controlled by Iran cannot succeed in prioritizing Iraq's interests, keeping Iraq away from regional conflicts, or enhancing the mutually beneficial partnership between the United States and Iraq."

Rubio confirmed that the two sides "(discussed) the ongoing diplomatic efforts to ensure the rapid return of countries' citizens detained in Iraq and to bring them to justice."

Earlier sources revealed that the United States threatened senior Iraqi politicians with imposing sanctions that could extend to the Iraqi state itself, including the potential targeting of its most important financial artery represented by oil revenues deposited through the Federal Reserve Bank in New York, in the event of involving Iranian-backed armed groups in the next Iraqi government.

According to four sources speaking to "Reuters," this warning is one of the strongest examples yet of President Donald Trump's campaign aiming to reduce the influence of Iranian-linked groups within Iraq.

Three Iraqi officials and a source familiar with the matter indicated that the American warning was repeatedly conveyed over the past two months through the U.S. Chargé d'Affaires in Baghdad, Joshua Harris, during discussions with Iraqi officials and prominent Shiite leaders, which included, through intermediaries, some leaders of Iranian-linked groups.

The President of the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Faik Zidan, called on Sunday for coordination between the Supreme Judicial Council and the Ministries of Interior and Justice and relevant security bodies to conduct investigations and trial of detainees accused of terrorism who were transferred from detention facilities in Syria.

Zidan emphasized, during a joint meeting with a group of judges, the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Justice, and relevant security agencies, the need for the investigation process to be conducted "in accordance with Iraqi law and respecting international standards."

Iraq had agreed to transfer about 7,000 senior ISIS leaders from prisons overseen by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), following the outbreak of battles within Syrian territory between the SDF and the Syrian army.

ISIS members will be sheltered in detention facilities in Iraq, to be received in batches.