Exclusive: The Trump administration sends a “war message” to Iraq: hints at decisive action.
The US State Department issued a stern warning to Iranian-backed armed factions in Iraq on Thursday, vowing to act “decisively” to protect US interests.
A State Department spokesperson told Shafaq News Agency, “The designations of Iran-backed terrorist organizations simply make one thing clear: these groups use terrorism to attack Americans in Iraq in service of Iran’s interests, and have done so for decades. They also exploit Iraq’s economy to fund Iran’s terrorist activities around the world.”
The US spokesman indicated that “under President Trump’s bold leadership, the United States will act decisively to ensure the protection of American interests in Iraq and the region.”
However, the spokesman cautioned that “the United States is committed to its partners throughout Iraq who are working to build a truly sovereign, stable, and prosperous country.”
He added, “The current administration is in constant communication with partners throughout Iraq and supports Iraqi actors who share the United States’ priorities and concerns.”
According to him, there are tangible economic achievements, saying, “Just today, a deal was signed between the Iraqi government and ExxonMobil to develop the Majnoon oil field, and recent US diplomatic efforts have led to the reopening of the pipeline between Iraq and Turkey.”
The US State Department spokesperson stated that “deals like these will deliver real and tangible benefits to both Americans and Iraqis, and are a testament to the partnership between the United States and Iraq.”
Shafaq.com