Iraq 0
8 March 2020

Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani visited Iraq and met with President Barham Salih and other senior Iraqi leaders. Salih remarked that “coordination and joint action with Iran in the field of combatting terrorism and extremism, and supporting Iraq’s efforts to maintain its sovereignty and security is of great importance”. In a joint press conference with a senior security official, Shamkhani emphasised that “measures taken by the Iraqi government, parliament and nation, who have demanded to oust U.S. forces in their huge rallies, deserve gratitude”. He also maintained that “we see no reason to interfere in Iraq’s domestic affairs”. Shamkhani subsequently stated: “visiting Iraq, I asked the Iraqi authorities to identify and introduce the internal agents involved in the assassination operation of the martyrs Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis”.

Subscribe to Crisis Group’s Email Updates

Receive the best source of conflict analysis right in your inbox.