Latest news with #IrfanSiddiq
Iraqi News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Iraq rejects British ambassador's remarks on PMF draft bill
Baghdad ( – The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted a letter of complaint against the British Ambassador to Iraq, Irfan Siddiq, on Sunday, citing his latest remarks on the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) draft bill as a violation of diplomatic norms and interference in Iraq's internal affairs. The Iraqi ministry mentioned in a statement that it had officially informed the United Kingdom's ambassador of its strong opposition to his recent remarks, which the Iraqi government sees as contradictory to diplomatic criteria, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported. Deputy Foreign Minister for Bilateral Affairs Mohammed Bahr al-Uloom expressed on Sunday the government's deep concern, reiterating that the British ambassador's remarks violate the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which require diplomats to respect the host country's laws and refrain from interfering in its internal affairs. The Iraqi ministry asked Siddiq to avoid such remarks in the future and to engage in ways that promote positive relationships between both countries. Siddiq also suggested that the PMF's position as an emergency force should be reviewed after the battle against the terrorist group ISIS has finished. The Iraqi foreign ministry emphasized the need to adopt constructive diplomatic cooperation based on respect between parties and not getting involved in governments' internal affairs. The law, known as the revised PMF authority law, would transform the PMF into a permanent armed entity with broad operational, political, and financial capabilities.
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
British ambassador summoned over remarks 'contrary to diplomatic norms'
Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraq's Foreign Ministry has formally conveyed its objection to recent public statements by UK Ambassador Irfan Siddiq, saying they contravene diplomatic norms and constitute interference in the country's internal affairs. According to a statement by the Foreign Ministry, a meeting was held at the ministry headquarters on Sunday, when Deputy Foreign Minister for Bilateral Affairs, Ambassador Mohammed Hussein Bahr al-Uloom, told Siddiq that the government viewed the remarks made on 8 August as 'inconsistent with the principles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.' The convention obliges foreign envoys to respect the laws and regulations of the host state and to refrain from involvement in its domestic matters. 'The ambassador was urged to avoid any similar statements or activities in the future and to act in ways that support friendly relations between Iraq and the United Kingdom.' The Foreign Ministry also stressed the importance of constructive diplomatic communication, adherence to mutual respect, and non-interference in states' internal affairs.
Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Faction–state rift deepens amid PMF row and UK envoy spat
Shafaq News – Baghdad Kataib Hezbollah accused domestic parties on Sunday of advancing 'the enemies' agenda' and reaffirmed its demand for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq. Kataib Hezbollah is an Iraqi Shiite armed faction that is part of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) — an umbrella organization of Shiite groups formed in 2014 to fight ISIS. In a statement, the Iran-aligned faction said it had 'stood as a bulwark in defense of Iraq's sovereignty' since the US invasion and through the fight against ISIS, claiming more than 4,000 killed and wounded. It accused the United States and its allies of seeking to tarnish its record. The group linked its remarks to recent calls by British Ambassador Irfan Siddiq to dissolve the PMF, and to alleged pressure on the committee investigating the Agriculture Directorate incident in Baghdad. It said it had agreed with leaders of the Coordination Framework — the ruling Shiite political alliance — to form an impartial investigation panel under their supervision, arguing that 'the opponent cannot be the judge.' The Agriculture Directorate clashes involved armed confrontations between PMF fighters and federal security forces, leaving at least three dead — a PMF member, a civilian, and a federal police officer — and prompting Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to acknowledge 'flaws' within the PMF's command structure. He dismissed the commanders of two Kataib Hezbollah brigades and referred them to the judiciary. The row with the British envoy follows a televised interview in which Siddiq questioned the PMF's role in post-ISIS Iraq, remarks that Shiite factions have condemned as interference in Iraqi sovereignty. The controversy has sharpened political debate over amendments to the PMF Authority Law, with allied factions such as Asaib Ahl al-Haq urging parliament to fast-track a stronger legal framework defining the force's structure and powers within Iraq's security apparatus.
Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraqi MP threatens to expel UK Envoy over PMF remarks
Shafaq News – Baghdad On Saturday, an Iraqi lawmaker vowed to push for the expulsion of British Ambassador Irfan Siddiq, accusing him of crossing red lines by wading into Iraq's internal affairs. MP Falih al-Khazali issued the warning after the envoy, in a televised interview, questioned the necessity of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in the post-ISIS era. Al-Khazali described Siddiq, a British diplomat of Pakistani origin, as 'a specialist in sowing unrest' in countries where he has served. He cited the ambassador's tenure in Azerbaijan between 2015 and 2018, marked by tensions with Iran, and his subsequent posting to Tehran, where protests erupted. 'In Iraq, he must stay within his bounds and avoid interfering in the country's internal affairs,' al-Khazali cautioned, 'otherwise we will file a formal request for his expulsion.'
Shafaq News
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Baghdad rocked by explosions: Iranian missiles traverse Iraqi skies
Shafaq News/ The loud explosions that rattled Baghdad early Saturday were caused by Iranian missiles crossing Iraqi airspace, a security source confirmed. The source told Shafaq News that one missile's fuel tank crashed between Abu Ghraib and Al-Radwaniyah, west of the capital, with no casualties recorded. The incident unfolded as Iran and Israel entered their second week of direct strikes, with both sides exchanging missile and drone attacks across multiple fronts. Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani renewed his rejection of Israel 's use of Iraqi airspace in strikes against Iran. In a meeting with UK Ambassador Irfan Siddiq, al-Sudani condemned the overflights as a 'violation of sovereignty' and a threat to both regional and global security. He called on the UN Security Council's permanent members to intervene—demanding a halt to Israeli strikes on Iran and Gaza, and pressing for immediate humanitarian access to the besieged Palestinian enclave.
