Latest news with #MustafaAl-Kadhimi
Shafaq News
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's former PM Al-Kadhimi breaks silence on return
Shafaq News/ Iraq's former Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi said his recent return to the country after stepping down in 2022 marks the beginning of a new phase of political engagement while outlining conditions for any future participation in parliamentary elections and warning of political polarization. In remarks published Tuesday in an interview with Al-Majalla magazine, Al-Kadhimi said he left Iraq after the end of his term to recuperate from years of public service, which included leading the Iraqi National Intelligence Service before assuming the premiership in 2020. "Some described it as a warrior's rest — and that's partially true," Al-Kadhimi said. 'It was a period of reflection, observation, and writing — but also of preparing ideas and strategies in response to the rapid transformations in the region and the world.' Al-Kadhimi said he was motivated to return by accelerating regional developments, which he believes require 'constructive ideas and a return to rational dialogue, away from reckless adventures.' He emphasized Iraq's Arab identity, stating that Baghdad must remain aligned with the broader Arab consensus and 'cannot replace its strategic depth.' While refraining from confirming whether he will run in Iraq's upcoming elections, Al-Kadhimi outlined two key conditions for participation, the first is a credible electoral process with the highest degree of transparency, referencing past concerns over manipulation and mobilization since Iraq's first post-2003 election. The second is a call for shared national responsibility, urging all political actors—inside and outside government—to prioritize the country's stability regardless of political alignment. 'Our options remain open,' he said, noting ongoing dialogue with various political forces that share his vision for reform and moderation. On foreign relations, Al-Kadhimi strongly defended Iraq's strategic partnership with the United States, describing it as vital to the country's development and institutional progress. 'Unfortunately, some figures promote populist slogans about severing ties with Washington, while privately seeking US approval and connections,' he said, warning against what he termed 'hypocrisy mixed with ignorance.' Al-Kadhimi also stressed the need for Iraq to play a mediating role amid rising US-Iran tensions, saying Baghdad should serve as a 'bridge for dialogue' not only between Washington and Tehran, but also among Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. "Iraq is uniquely positioned—geographically and historically—to help reduce regional polarization," he said, calling for a balanced foreign policy grounded in national interests, regional integration, and security priorities.
Shafaq News
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Erbil talks: Leader Barzani, Al-Kadhimi address Iraq's pressing issues
Shafaq News/ On Monday, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani met with former Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi to discuss the latest political and security developments in Iraq. According to a statement, the meeting took place at the Salahuddin resort in Erbil, and discussions covered the political process, relations between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government, and broader regional security dynamics.
Shafaq News
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
PM Barzani, ex-Iraqi PM push for resolution of disputes
Shafaq News/ On Sunday, the Kurdish Prime Minister, Masrour Barzani, met with former Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, in Erbil. According to a statement by the Kurdish PM, the two sides reviewed the general situation in Iraq and the region, as well as the preparations for the upcoming legislative elections. The talks also emphasized the need to resolve outstanding issues between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government to ensure the constitutional rights and financial entitlements of the region's citizens.
Asharq Al-Awsat
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Mustafa Al-Kadhimi's Return to Iraq
Former Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi is returning to Iraq as a geopolitical earthquake shakes the Middle East, depriving Iran of its strategic footholds in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. The first conclusion we can draw is that Tehran does not set the tempo any longer. Meanwhile, the factions in Iraq that take their marching orders from Iran are confronting existential challenges as calls for restoring the state's authority and sovereignty, liberating it from the dominance of militias, are growing louder. However, the irony is that Iran's weakness adds to the significance of Iraq, as Al-Kadhimi returns, in Iran's calculations. Within the span of just ten weeks from - September 27 to December 8, 2024 - Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah's assassination crowned the collapse of Hezbollah's leadership, and the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime ended the strategic framework that Iran had been operating through to take its influence to historically unprecedented levels. In addition, Hamas was destroyed and almost all of Gaza has been turned to dust. As a result, Baghdad has become Iran's most suitable alternative to compensate for losses in Syria, Gaza, and Lebanon. On the other hand, increasing numbers of Iraqis are now calling for the "liberation of Iraq's decision-making from Iranian hegemony" amid growing pressure, both domestically and globally, on the government to rein in armed factions and remove the threat they pose to internal, regional, and global stability. Therefore, it is difficult to view Kadhimi's return as merely a footnote in a shifting regional landscape or to dismiss it as just one of many signs pointing to an opportunity for Iraq to redefine its relationship with its neighbor based on new rules dictated by the changing regional balance of power and Iran's evolving position within it. If it is true, as his opponents claim to undermine his popular legitimacy, that Al-Kadhimi did not become prime minister (2020–2022) through democratic elections, it is also true that he left a strong mark on the political landscape. His government made progress on several issues that matter to Iraqi citizens, taking unprecedented steps to contain the armed factions that had long dominated governance, and it balanced Iraq's foreign policy, recalibrating its relations with regional and international powers. The assassination attempt he survived in November 2021 is concrete evidence of the deep resentment that his policies left and their impact on Iran's agenda in Iraq. Al-Kadhimi is part of a broad segment of Iraq's Shiite political forces that seek to reinforce Iraq's independence from Iran, going against the other faction that maintains strong allegiance to Tehran. His return will invigorate a political agenda that prioritizes dissolving the armed factions into the regular security forces, which Iran's proxy militias see as a direct threat to their influence. His return to Baghdad also coincides with the growing influence of Arab state actors, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and with the continued presence of the United States. Recent months have seen an increase in Gulf investment, as well as indications from Washington that it is willing to help Baghdad rebuild its armed forces - on the condition that the latter curbs the influence of Iran-backed militias. The fact is that Al-Kadhimi is not merely a controversial politician of post-Saddam Iraq returning to power. His comeback is not just part of his personal trajectory, it is closely tied to the resurgence of the narrative advocating the independence of the Iraqi state, among both politicians and the public, as well as the growing momentum behind the push to reshape relations with Iran on new terms that respect Iraq's sovereignty. At the same time, Iran has room to maneuver. It understands that the domestic shifts in Iraq will not necessarily cost it all of its influence. Iran may see the political formula in Iraq to alleviate US pressure, especially with President Donald Trump's administration now in power. In contrast to what happened in Syria, where the regime collapsed entirely, developments in Iraq are likely to redistribute power within the current framework, giving Iran the option to adapt instead of gambling away its influence all at once. After Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, there is now an opportunity for an Iraqi political alliance that includes Al-Kadhimi, who can leverage his symbolism and ties to patriotic and non-ideological Shiite factions, the Kurds, with their political and geographic weight, and the Sunnis, with their weight in the Arab world. This coalition could exploit Iran's frailty and render it a steppingstone on the path to reinforcing Iraq's national sovereignty. It would be no surprise if, in the upcoming elections, this alliance's campaign revolves around containing the militias' influence, integrating them into state institutions, strengthening ties with Gulf states as an economic and strategic alternative to Iran, rebalancing Iraq's relations with international powers so that its foreign policy serves national in isolation of regional conflicts, and, ultimately, advancing a new political vision centered on the notion of "Iraq First" that ends Baghdad's dependence on foreign axes. Iraq will not remain immune to the political shifts precipitated by the October 7, 2023, attack and the military and political upheaval in the Arab Levant that followed. Despite the challenges, Iraq is now in a better position than ever to reclaim its sovereignty and go from being a passive recipient of Iranian pressure to an active player that shapes its policies in line with its national interests.
Arab News
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Former Iraqi PM returns to Baghdad despite security threats
BAGHDAD: Former Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, known for promoting the rule of law, returned to Baghdad Tuesday for the first time in more than two years despite ongoing security threats. In 2021, he survived an assassination attempt in which two armed drones targeted his residence in Baghdad's Green Zone area. The attack came at a time of tensions sparked by the refusal of Iran-backed militias to accept parliamentary election results. Al-Kadhimi left Iraq after his term as prime minister ended in 2022 and has been living in London and the United Arab Emirates. The former prime minister did not immediately make any public statements upon his return. Three officials with his office who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly said security threats against the former prime minister were still present. They said he had returned at the invitation of current Iraqi political leaders who hoped he could use his connections to help them confront a worsening economic crisis that threatens the country's stability. Al-Kadhimi has good relations with the United States and Saudi Arabia. Iraq is currently looking to strengthen ties with both countries. He was Iraq's former intelligence chief before becoming prime minister in 2020 following mass anti-government protests that toppled the previous cabinet. Iraq is also set to hold parliamentary elections later this year, raising the possibility that Al-Kadhimi might be preparing to attempt a political come-back.
