Iraq's Sudani Confirms Election Bid, Invites Syria's al-Sharaa to Arab Summit in Baghdad

Asharq Al-Awsat

17-04-2025

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced his intention to run in the upcoming parliamentary elections and confirmed that Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has been officially invited to attend the Arab League Summit in Baghdad, scheduled for May 17.
Speaking at the Sulaymaniyah Forum on Wednesday, al-Sudani addressed political leaders and government officials, presenting his government's accomplishments and vision. He emphasized Iraq's renewed efforts to assert its role in the Arab world, saying: 'We aim to host a successful Arab summit in Baghdad that reflects the country's strategic importance and provides a platform for addressing critical regional issues'.
Al-Sudani noted that the summit will be an opportunity to build joint mechanisms to deal with shared challenges.
'President Ahmad al-Sharaa is welcome in Baghdad. We've extended an official invitation for his participation,' he said.
On regional tensions, particularly between the United States and Iran, al-Sudani stressed the importance of diplomacy.
'We have officially welcomed both direct and indirect negotiations between the two sides, and we hope they lead to peaceful outcomes that serve regional stability,' he underlined.
Turning to domestic politics, al-Sudani confirmed he will run in the November 2025 elections but declined to name the coalition he will represent. He urged voters to distinguish between effective political programs and what he called the 'recycling of failed and corrupt agendas.'
He credited the progress of his government to support from key political alliances, particularly the State Administration Coalition and the Coordination Framework.
Meanwhile, Iraqi political parties are beginning to shape their election strategies, following the Electoral Commission's announcement that it has opened registration for candidate lists. Sources suggest the Coordination Framework may splinter into four main groups due to internal disagreements, though alliances with smaller factions are seen as more viable.
On the sidelines of the forum, al-Sudani met with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani. The two leaders stressed the importance of keeping Iraq neutral amid regional conflicts and supporting peaceful resolutions.
A statement from the Prime Minister's office said both parties agreed on maintaining strong coordination between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to safeguard national unity and serve Iraq's long-term interests.