Iraq tries to balance relations with Washington and Tehran after US uproar over Tehran security pact

The Iraqi government has rejected Washington's criticisms of a new security agreement signed with Iran, insisting that Baghdad was "not subordinate to the policy of any other state".

The statements were issued by the Iraqi embassy in Washington late on Tuesday in response to comments made by US State Department Spokesman Tammy Bruce, following the signing of a joint security memorandum of understanding relating to security coordination between the two neighbours.

Bruce expressed US opposition to the new agreement, which it deemed inconsistent with US goals, stating that the US supported "genuine Iraqi sovereignty" and not legislation which would turn Iraq into an "Iranian satellite state".

The US statement also expressed its rejection of measures that "ran counter" to its "efforts to strengthen existing security institutions in Iraq".

The new security agreement focuses on enhancing border security coordination on the shared border between Iraq and Iran.

The Iraqi embassy statement asserted that Iraq was "a fully sovereign state, with the inherent right to conclude agreements and memoranda of understanding in accordance with its constitution, national laws, and supreme interests".

"Iraq maintains relations of friendship and cooperation with a wide range of countries, including its geographic neighbours, the United States of America, and other friendly nations, and is committed to fostering these relations on the basis of mutual respect and shared interests," the statement added.

"[This is] part of bilateral cooperation aimed at safeguarding security and managing the shared border, thereby contributing to the stability and security of both countries and serving the broader security of the whole region."

An Iraqi foreign ministry official who spoke to The New Arab's Arabic language edition on condition of anonymity said Baghdad was not trying to provoke Washington with the security memorandum.

"Iran is pushing to strengthen security cooperation with Baghdad, especially on border issues, infiltration and intelligence cooperation, which also aligns with Baghdad’s interests," he explained. "Baghdad doesn't want to lose either party."

The Iranian embassy in Baghdad on Wednesday condemned the "unacceptable interference" of the US in its bilateral relations with its neighbour.

It added that the US objections to a deal which aimed to strengthen the two countries' mutual security and combat terrorism, could be considered "clear evidence as to the destabilising approach taken by the US towards the countries of the region, and an indication of the continuous efforts by the decision-makers in that country to sow discord between neighbouring Muslim peoples".

The security deal is perceived to have been signed at a critical time for Iraq-Iran relations, particularly after attempts by pro-Iran political forces in Iraq to pass a bill formalising the Popular Mobilisation Forces' (PMF) presence in the country.

This bill, which would have granted the PMF (a powerful network of Iran-linked armed groups) autonomous funding and command structures, and formalised its position as an independent security institution under the prime minister's authority, failed due to pressure from Washington.

The US has intensified its pressure on the Iraqi administration to disarm Iranian-linked militias and cut its links with Iran, in response to attacks made by several of these groups on Israeli targets and US military bases in Iraq and Syria after October 7 2023. 

This is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.