Iraq's foreign minister says external parties are using Iraqi soil to attack neighbours

Iraq's foreign minister, Fuad Hussein, says his government has evidence that external parties have used Iraqi territory to launch attacks on neighbouring countries. In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, he said Baghdad is investigating attacks launched from Iraqi territory against Gulf states, and he warned of the possibility of a wider regional war.

The Gulf states are the Arab countries on the western shore of the Persian Gulf. Their concerns sit against a larger conflict. Earlier this year, Iran targeted United States military assets across several Gulf Arab states in retaliation for a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran.

Saudi Arabia has accused Iran-aligned groups operating in Iraq of attacking its oil infrastructure. In September 2026, Baghdad confirmed that drone attacks on Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline had originated from Iraqi territory, according to Al Jazeera.

Hussein said Baghdad is seeking to resolve its disagreements with Saudi Arabia through dialogue. He also said Iraq is negotiating with Iran-aligned armed factions to bring their weapons under state control, and that the aim is to do so through dialogue rather than force. Iraq's National Security Council has said it is working on a plan to halt the attacks and protect the sovereignty of Iraq's neighbours.

Iraq is also in contact with Tehran about the weapons held by Iraqi factions, Hussein said. He stated that Iraq welcomes friendship and alliance with Iran but rejects interference in its internal affairs.

On the border, Hussein said Washington had formally requested the closure of all but two crossings between Iraq and Iran. He did not describe the reasons for the request.

Hussein also put a economic cost on the disruption. He said Iraq lost about $60bn because oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow sea passage between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, were suspended. Iraqi oil shipments have since resumed, he said, after understandings were reached with Washington and Tehran.

Finally, Hussein said Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Turkiye have formed a committee to fight the presence of ISIL, the Islamic State militant group, in Syria.

The full interview is scheduled to air on Al Jazeera at 18:00 GMT on Sunday.