The Republic of Iraq affirms its firm and principled position of rejecting the use of its land, airspace, or territorial waters as a platform to launch any military action against any state. This was stated by Al Sudani in a statement released by his office. The statement was issued due to 'the rapid evolution of regional events and the subsequent escalation and threats affecting the security and stability' of the Middle East. The note did not explicitly mention Iran or the United States, two of its major allies. According to Al Sudani, Iraq's position is based on respect for the sovereignty of countries and non-interference in internal affairs, therefore Iraq is 'fully committed to preventing its territory from being used in a way that threatens the security and stability of neighboring countries.' Likewise, he rejected that his country be 'involved in conflicts that do not benefit the interests of the Iraqi people.' In this regard, he reiterated the Iraqi government's call to all opposing parties 'to exercise moderation, prioritize dialogue, avoid escalation, and work seriously to resolve disputes through peaceful and diplomatic means,' with the aim of 'avoiding greater tension and instability in the region.' Iraq, which shares an extensive border with Iran, is trying to maintain a balance in its relations with Tehran and Washington—its strategic ally—amid tensions between the two countries, and has expressed concern about the possibility of a conflict that directly affects its territory, where there are American troops.
