The White House \u2014\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nAs U.S. President Joe Biden hosted Iraq\u2019s prime minister Monday, all eyes were on Iran, which over the weekend made a historic first strike on Israel. <\/p>\n
That attack has inflamed concerns of a wider regional war \u2014 a situation that effectively eclipsed the leaders\u2019 already-planned Oval Office meeting, where they wanted to discuss their mutual fight against Islamic State, economic issues and Iraq\u2019s progress toward energy independence and modernization.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the enduring strategic partnership between Iraq and the United States, and discussed their visions for comprehensive bilateral cooperation under the 2008 U.S.-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement,\u201d the two leaders said in a joint statement after Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani met with Biden. <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, White House officials disputed reports that Iran delivered a clear warning before the strike. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby called such reports \u201cnonsense.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan you imagine a world in which Iran would pick up the phone and say, \u2018Hey, we’re about to try to schwack Israel with 300 cruise missiles and drones. We just wanted to let you know it’s coming. And oh, by the way, here’s what we’re going to hit.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m sorry,\u201d he said. \u201cIt just didn’t happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stressed that Israel\u2019s response is \u201can Israeli decision to make,\u201d and \u201cwe\u2019re going to leave it squarely with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even though the United States is describing Iran’s aerial assault as a failure, Iraq\u2019s leader acknowledged that the conflict between Israel and Hamas is of major concern in the region. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are actually very eager about stopping this war, which claimed the lives of thousands of civilians, women and children,\u201d Sudani said, sitting beside Biden in the Oval Office. \u201cAnd we encourage all the efforts about stopping the expansion of the area of conflict.” <\/p>\n
The two nations have a delicate relationship after decades of U.S. military involvement in Iraq. U.S. anti-aircraft assets in northern Iraq were used to shoot down some of the Iranian missiles.<\/p>\n
Biden said Iraq \u2014 a longtime adversary of Iran \u2014 has a role to play in maintaining peace. <\/p>\n
\u201cSimply put, our partnership is pivotal for our nations, for the Middle East, and I believe, for the world,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Earlier Monday, Sudani\u2019s deputy met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, where both men hailed the regional cooperation that thwarted the attack and urged de-escalation. <\/p>\n
“I think what this weekend demonstrated is that Israel did not have to and does not have to defend itself alone when it is the victim of an aggression, the victim of an attack,\u201d Blinken said. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn the 36 hours since, we have been coordinating a diplomatic response to seek to prevent escalation.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cWe call on all parties for self-restraint and respect the rules and also international norms that we set,\u201d said Muhammad Ali Tamim, Iraq\u2019s deputy prime minister.<\/p>\n
The two leaders announced a raft of bilateral measures Monday, but none directly referenced Iran.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe President and Prime Minister agreed on the importance of working together to advance regional stability and reinforce and respect Iraqi sovereignty, stability, and security,\u201d their joint statement said. <\/p>\n
The other agreements centered on the priorities the Biden administration outlined in March ahead of the visit: energy independence, regional security and the \u201clasting defeat of ISIS.\u201d<\/p>\n
But analysts say Baghdad should seize every diplomatic opportunity to seek peace. <\/p>\n
\u201cIraq needs to make its preference for reduced escalation clear,\u201d Daniel Byman, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told VOA on Zoom. \u201cAnd that’s both talking to the Iranians, but also talking to other Arab states and talking to the United States, that this is negative from Iraq’s point of view, and that it wants all the powers to take responsible action to try to reduce escalation.\u201d <\/p>\n
As Israel mulls its response, regional actors are not sitting still. On Monday, Iraq\u2019s president met with King Abdullah II of Jordan. According to Jordan\u2019s royal court, they spoke about the dangers of this conflict escalating further. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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