Savaya outlines a series of paths in his first statement: Iraq’s future without Iran and its proxies.
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Iraq, Mark Savaya, issued an official statement affirming Washington’s support for Baghdad’s path toward “stability, sovereignty and prosperity,” stressing the need to unify the armed forces under the banner of the central government and prevent any armed groups from operating outside the authority of the state.
In his first official statement since being appointed, Savaya said that “the Iraqi leadership has taken important steps over the past three years to steer the country in the right direction politically and economically,” noting that Iraq has begun to regain its status as a sovereign state “working to reduce foreign interference, collect weapons in the hands of the state, and open markets to international companies to rebuild the fragile infrastructure.”
The US envoy added that “the United States has made it clear that there is no place for any armed groups operating outside the authority of the state, and that the stability and prosperity of Iraq depend on the existence of unified security forces under the command of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and a single flag representing all Iraqis.”
Savaya stressed that “the future of Iraq and the region is linked to a country that enjoys full sovereignty, free from malicious foreign interference, especially from Iran and its proxies,” calling for enhanced cooperation between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to ensure “lasting security, economic growth and national cohesion.”
The US envoy stressed that Iraq is “a pivotal country in the Middle East, and must play its natural role in promoting peace, security and regional stability, without returning to past practices or adopting policies that impede unity and progress.”
Savaya concluded his statement by saying, “My mission, on behalf of President Trump, is to support Iraq in its pursuit of stability, sovereignty, and prosperity. Iraq will remain one of the United States’ most important and strongest partners, and I am committed to strengthening this relationship during my time as Special Envoy.”
This is the first statement of its kind from US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Iraq, Mark Savaya, since his official appointment on October 19, 2025.
Savaya, an American businessman of Iraqi (Chaldean/Assyrian) descent from Michigan, rose to prominence in recent years through his support for Trump’s presidential campaign and his outreach to Middle Eastern communities in the United States. His lack of prior diplomatic experience made his appointment surprising in political circles, but Trump affirmed that he possesses “a deep understanding of Iraq and influential contacts in the region.”
Shafaq.com