Sadr Calls for International Support to 'Exit Sectarian Tunnel'

Head of the Sadrist Movement and Sairoun Alliance Moqtada al-Sadr (Reuters/ Alaa al-Marjani/ File Photo)
Head of the Sadrist Movement and Sairoun Alliance Moqtada al-Sadr (Reuters/ Alaa al-Marjani/ File Photo)
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Sadr Calls for International Support to 'Exit Sectarian Tunnel'

Head of the Sadrist Movement and Sairoun Alliance Moqtada al-Sadr (Reuters/ Alaa al-Marjani/ File Photo)
Head of the Sadrist Movement and Sairoun Alliance Moqtada al-Sadr (Reuters/ Alaa al-Marjani/ File Photo)

While Muqtada al-Sadr, whose Sairoun alliance got a majority of votes in the May 12 parliamentary elections, has intensified his meetings with leaders of other alliances and parties to form a large parliamentary bloc, Washington communicated with the Iraqi official through intermediaries, after a series of sharp positions taken by his movement against the US.

Dhiaa al-Asadi, a senior aide to Sadr, said the United States had contacted members of Sairoun, adding that there were no direct talks with the Americans, but mediators were assigned to open channels with members of the coalition.

Al-Asadi was quoted by Reuters as saying: “They asked what the position of the Sadrist movement will be when they come to power. Are they going to reinvent or invoke the Mahdi Army or reemploy them? Are they going to attack American forces in Iraq?”

“There’s no return to square one. We are not intending on having any military force other than the official military force, police forces and security forces,” he added.

US State Department spokesperson, Heather Nauert said during a press conference that her country respected the choice of the Iraqi people.

“We will work with whoever the Iraqi Government and the people of Iraq decide to elect into its government. We’ve had a long, good – longstanding, good relationship with the Government of Iraq and we will continue to have a good relationship with them”, Nauert said.

Meanwhile, Sadr met with the United Nations special envoy to Iraq, Jan Kubis, and stressed that Iraq needed support from the international community and the UN organization “to get out of the tunnel of sectarianism and to prevent regional interference in the Iraqi elections file.”

Kubis, for his part, underlined the UN’s readiness to provide assistance needed by Iraq, and expressed his hope that the understandings and discussions would lead to the formation of a national government that supports stability in the country.

The meeting was held on the eve of an extraordinary session held by the Iraqi Parliament, whose term expires at the end of June, to discuss the results of the parliamentary elections, after increasing complaints and challenges in a number of provinces, primarily Kirkuk.

Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission announced on Monday the cancellation of the results of 103 vote centers of parliamentary elections after the verification of dozens of “red complaints”, which are considered as “extremely serious violations that affect the outcome of competing lists at the voting centers.”



Witkoff Says US Expects Phase Two of Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal to Proceed

FILE PHOTO: US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/File Photo
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Witkoff Says US Expects Phase Two of Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal to Proceed

FILE PHOTO: US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/File Photo

President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday the US expects the second phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal to go forward and that he would visit the Middle East in the coming week.

Witkoff made the comments in a CNN 'State of the Union' interview after being asked about Israel's decision to postpone the release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees and how he expected the ceasefire to be impacted by developments in the region.

"We have to get an extension of phase one," Reuters quoted Witkoff as saying. "I'll be going to the region this week, probably Wednesday, to negotiate that."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Sunday Israel was waiting to deliver 620 Palestinian prisoners and detainees "until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies." Hamas handed over six hostages from Gaza on Saturday.

Some Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners and detainees have been released as part of a three-phase ceasefire in Gaza that went into effect just before Trump took office on January 20.

Palestinian officials have cited the blindfolding and binding of hands of Palestinian prisoners and detainees and warnings against holding celebrations at their release as examples of their humiliation by Israeli authorities.
Israel cites Hamas making hostages appear on stage in front of crowds and sometimes speak before they are handed over, as well as parading coffins with hostage remains through crowds.
Witkoff told CNN that Netanyahu was "well-motivated" and that Hamas cannot continue to govern Gaza.