Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury on Iraqi banks. A statement from the Foreign Ministry mentioned that "Hussein received a phone call from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken as part of the follow-up on important regional and international developments and issues of mutual interest. The call also addressed the attacks carried out by the United States on military and civilian sites in the Akashat and Qaim regions, which targeted Iraqi security forces and resulted in the martyrdom of several security personnel and Iraqi civilians."
The Foreign Minister affirmed "the Iraqi government's rejection of such attacks and the necessity to stop them, emphasizing that Iraq should not be a battleground for settling scores between conflicting countries." He stressed "the need to return to the negotiating table within the framework of the High Military Committee meetings." Both sides confirmed the importance of working to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries and continued coordination and consultation in the upcoming period to follow up on joint work paths to face the increasing challenges in the region.
The minister also addressed the sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury on seven Iraqi banks recently, following sanctions on fourteen Iraqi banks. He explained that "these banks play a significant role in financing the expenses of the ration card and providing the food basket for Iraqi families with limited incomes." The minister officially requested a reconsideration of the U.S. Treasury's decision on the matter, noting "Iraq's commitment to building partnership and cooperation relations with friendly countries and working together to confront economic and security challenges in a way that supports stability in the region."
For his part, Secretary Blinken expressed his commitment to continued joint work and communication between the two sides, supporting the Iraqi government in various fields, especially in economic cooperation.
