US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Tuesday and the two discussed Iranian influence in the region, the need for Iraq to be energy independent, and US business investments, the Statement Department said.
"The two agreed on the need for Iraq to become energy independent, to quickly reopen the Iraq-Türkiye Pipeline, and to honor contractual terms for US companies working in Iraq to attract additional investment," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement.
The two "also discussed reducing Iran's malign influence and continuing efforts to prevent ISIS from resurging and destabilizing the broader region," the spokesperson added.
In a statement about the telephone call, Sudani's office made no mention of the comments about Iran, which observers said marks a discrepancy between Washington and Baghdad's stances over Tehran.
A source close to the Iraqi government said the discrepancy was "unacceptable", but that such differences often happen in official statements because they each reflect the positions that serve their goals and interests.
The source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the US statement confirms claims that Baghdad will come under pressure from the new administration in Washington over its ties to Iran.
Donald Trump's new administration has vowed to reapply the "maximum pressure" campaign on Tehran.
The pro-Iran Coordination Framework MPs will call for an emergency meeting in the coming days to discuss the call between Rubio and Sudani, said local media.
A State Department statement said the officials also discussed the US-Iraq strategic partnership and the importance of Iraq's stability and sovereignty.
Moreover, Rubio "reaffirmed the importance of Syria not becoming a haven for terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbors."
The officials "committed to continuing to consult on issues in the region and to advance the US-Iraq security partnership."
