As Iraq prepares to appoint a new president and prime minister, the US is seeking to work with Baghdad on several important issues. Towards that end, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani on January 25.
“The Secretary emphasized that a government controlled by Iran cannot successfully put Iraq’s own interests first, keep Iraq out of regional conflicts, or advance the mutually beneficial partnership between the United States and Iraq,” a readout of the conversation noted.
The major part of the conversation focused on Iraq allowing the transfer of ISIS detainees from Syria. This could potentially be controversial in Iraq, because reports have mentioned up to 7,000 detainees. Iraq has already prosecuted many ISIS members and also repatriated most of its citizens who joined ISIS and ended up in Syria.
Iraq has also wanted the US military presence in the country to end. In late 2025, US forces withdrew from Ain al-Assad base in Iraq, the last major footprint the US had outside of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq.
According to the readout of the conversation between Rubio and Sudani, “the Secretary commended the Government of Iraq’s initiative and leadership in expediting the transfer and detention of ISIS terrorists to secure facilities in Iraq, following recent instability in northeast Syria.”
They also “discussed ongoing diplomatic efforts to ensure countries rapidly repatriate their citizens in Iraq, bringing them to justice.”
Then the conversation turned to Iraq’s ongoing deliberations to form a government. The two men discussed “their shared commitment to ensuring that Iraq can fully realize its potential as a force for stability, prosperity, and security in the Middle East.” Then the US noted that Iraq should not be controlled by Iran.
“The Secretary emphasized that a government controlled by Iran cannot successfully put Iraq’s own interests first, keep Iraq out of regional conflicts, or advance the mutually beneficial partnership between the United States and Iraq.”
Maliki was known for being pro-Iran
This is an issue because Iraq may appoint former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki as the next prime minister. Maliki was known for being pro-Iran and very sectarian. He also failed to prevent the rise of ISIS in Iraq in 2013-2014. There are concerns he might shift Iraq closer to the Iranian camp if he returns to power.
The US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott also posted on Twitter/X that “the United States welcomes the Iraqi government's initiative and regional leadership in expediting the transfer and detention of ISIS terrorists to secure facilities in Iraq, following recent instability in northeast Syria.
Iraq is on the front line in confronting the threat ISIS poses to all nations. The United States urges all countries to repatriate foreign fighters to face justice.”