Tehran confirmed that it has "good relations" with various political factions in Iraq and that it seeks to bring their viewpoints closer together, without taking sides against any particular faction. This was stated by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani on Monday, who added: "We advise all political groups to respect the Iraqi constitution to resolve disputes and maintain the legal institutions in this country. We believe that resolving crises comes through dialogue and prioritizing national interests over factional interests."
Kanaani avoided directly answering a question about the possibility of Iran communicating with the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, stating only, "Our relations are ongoing with our brothers in Iraq through our embassy and other means." In reference to the possibility of an Iranian initiative to resolve the crisis in Iraq at the request of the Iraqi side, Kanaani said: "We reject intervention in Iraq's internal affairs while attempting to bring political viewpoints among Iraqi parties closer together to shape a government in Iraq. Our relations with various Iraqi parties are strong, and we do not side with any political or sectarian faction against another."
He added: "We view Iraq as a single entity, and its stability is very important to us. In the context of political stability, relations with this country can be enhanced, enabling Iraq to play a more effective role in the regional arena."
