Iraq’s FM says external parties using Iraqi soil to attack neighbours

Key points

• Iraq's foreign minister says Baghdad has evidence external parties used Iraqi soil to attack neighbouring countries.
• Saudi Arabia accused Iran-aligned groups in Iraq of attacking its oil infrastructure, including the East-West pipeline.
• Hussein says Iraq lost about $60bn from suspended oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, now resumed.

Iraq has evidence that external parties have used its territory to launch attacks on neighbouring countries, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein told Al Jazeera in an exclusive interview on Saturday. Baghdad is investigating attacks launched from Iraqi soil against Gulf states, he said.

Hussein said Iraq is seeking to resolve disagreements with Saudi Arabia through dialogue. Saudi Arabia has accused Iran-aligned groups operating in Iraq of attacking its oil infrastructure, and in September Baghdad confirmed that drone attacks on the kingdom's East-West pipeline came from Iraqi territory.

Talks on armed factions

Hussein said Baghdad is negotiating with Iran-aligned armed factions to bring their weapons under state control, and that the process must go through dialogue rather than force. He said Iraq is also in contact with Tehran about weapons held by Iraqi factions.

He said Washington had formally asked Iraq to close all but two border crossings with Iran. Iraq welcomes friendship and an alliance with Tehran but rejects interference in its internal affairs, he said.

the process must be pursued through dialogue rather than force

— Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein

Oil losses and ISIL committee

Hussein said Iraq lost about $60bn from the suspension of oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, but that shipments have resumed after understandings were reached with Washington and Tehran.

On combatting ISIL (ISIS), he said Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Turkiye have formed a committee to fight the group's presence in Syria. The full interview is due to air at 18:00 GMT on Sunday.