Washington, DC – The US State Department announced on Monday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. They discussed a number of security and political issues of mutual concern. According to the State Department statement, Rubio commended the Iraqi government’s initiative to expedite the transfer and detention of ISIS terrorists to secure facilities within Iraq. This follows the recent instability in northeastern Syria.
The call also addressed diplomatic efforts to quickly repatriate and bring to justice the nationals of other countries currently in Iraq.
The statement noted discussions regarding Iraq’s government formation process, emphasizing both sides’ commitment to ensuring Iraq’s ability to realize its full potential as a force for stability, prosperity, and security in the region.
Rubio stressed that a government under Iranian influence would be unable to prioritize Iraq’s interests, keep the country out of regional conflicts, or strengthen the partnership with the United States.
