Iraqi Foreign Minister Discusses Islamic Republic Attacks with Saudi and Turkish Counterparts

On Thursday night, January 18, the Iraqi Foreign Minister announced discussions with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia and Turkey regarding the recent attacks by the Islamic Republic on Iraq and Pakistan. Foad Hussein described his meeting with Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi Foreign Minister, on the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as 'important' and noted that they also exchanged views on the impact of these attacks on regional relations. Without detailing the subject, he mentioned that strengthening bilateral relations, the security situation in the region, and current challenges were other topics of discussion. In another post on X, the Iraqi Foreign Minister wrote that in a phone call with Hakan Fidan, the Turkish Foreign Minister, the latest developments regarding 'Iran's incursions into Iraqi territory' were reviewed. He pointed out that armed conflict between Iran and Pakistan and its threat to regional security were also discussed. Hussein wrote: 'We emphasized the importance of dialogue and cooperation to prevent the recurrence of these attacks to ensure regional security.' Previously, the foreign ministers of Arab League member countries adopted a seven-point resolution in an emergency meeting, which included 'strong condemnation of the bombing of the Kurdistan region of Iraq that resulted in the deaths of several innocent civilians and the destruction of several civilian sites.' This resolution deemed the IRGC's missile attack as 'a blatant violation of Iraq's sovereignty, the security of the Iraqi people, and a gross violation of the principles of good neighborliness and international laws, charters, and norms.' The IRGC's attacks on Iraq, Pakistan, and Syria, justified by targeting Mossad bases or terrorist groups, have raised criticisms and concerns about escalating crises in the region, coinciding with the ongoing war in Gaza and attacks by Iran-backed Houthi groups in Bab al-Mandab and the Red Sea. Additionally, Pakistan carried out retaliatory strikes inside Iran, targeting seven locations. Meanwhile, Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, condemned the recent IRGC missile attacks on Iraq, Syria, and Pakistan under the pretext of 'fighting terrorism' as violations of the sovereignty of these three countries. The article also touches on various reactions to the situation, including the rising price of the U.S. dollar in Iran following the deadly attacks in Pakistan and criticisms from Britain regarding the IRGC's actions in northern Iraq, which resulted in the death of a British citizen.