Lavrov in Iraq to Discuss US Sanctions over Ukraine

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) and his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein hold a press conference at the ministry of foreign affairs in Baghdad on February 6, 2023. (Photo by Handout / Russian Foreign Ministry / AFP)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) and his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein hold a press conference at the ministry of foreign affairs in Baghdad on February 6, 2023. (Photo by Handout / Russian Foreign Ministry / AFP)
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Lavrov in Iraq to Discuss US Sanctions over Ukraine

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) and his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein hold a press conference at the ministry of foreign affairs in Baghdad on February 6, 2023. (Photo by Handout / Russian Foreign Ministry / AFP)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) and his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein hold a press conference at the ministry of foreign affairs in Baghdad on February 6, 2023. (Photo by Handout / Russian Foreign Ministry / AFP)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Iraqi counterpart on Monday discussed unpaid bills owed to Russian oil companies because of US sanctions over the Ukraine conflict.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein told a Baghdad news conference that he would discuss the issue during a visit to Washington on Wednesday.

"The sanctions should not be imposed on Iraq because its cooperation continues with Russian companies," Hussein told reporters.

Since the Ukraine war began nearly a year ago, the United States and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Russian officials, banks and financial institutions, raising fears in third countries about any transactions involving Russia.

Hussein said Russian oil and gas companies operating in Iraq were still awaiting some payments, without specifying how much was due.

Standing alongside Lavrov, he said: "We have discussed how to manage these defaults in light of the sanctions imposed on Russia and the protection of Iraqi banks and its central bank."

He said there would be a meeting "in the coming months" of a joint committee on bilateral relations with Russia to discuss the issue.

Lavrov meanwhile criticized the Western measures, describing them as "illegal".

"Under the current conditions of illegal restrictions imposed by the Americans and their proxies, it is very important to protect legal economic relations from illegal Western pressure," Lavrov said.

"This is what many countries in the region are doing, switching instead of the dollar to payments in the currencies of other reliable countries, in particular for oil deliveries," he added.

Hussein reiterated Baghdad's support for a ceasefire and negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

"We support a ceasefire between both parties so negotiations to end this truly global crisis can begin," he said.



Israel Attacks Houthi Targets in Yemeni Ports, Power Plant

Yemenis brandish their rifles and chant slogans during a rally in solidarity with Palestinians and the Gaza Strip and in condemnation of Israel and the US, in the Houthi-run capital Sanaa on July 4, 2025. (Photo by Mohammed HUWAIS / AFP)
Yemenis brandish their rifles and chant slogans during a rally in solidarity with Palestinians and the Gaza Strip and in condemnation of Israel and the US, in the Houthi-run capital Sanaa on July 4, 2025. (Photo by Mohammed HUWAIS / AFP)
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Israel Attacks Houthi Targets in Yemeni Ports, Power Plant

Yemenis brandish their rifles and chant slogans during a rally in solidarity with Palestinians and the Gaza Strip and in condemnation of Israel and the US, in the Houthi-run capital Sanaa on July 4, 2025. (Photo by Mohammed HUWAIS / AFP)
Yemenis brandish their rifles and chant slogans during a rally in solidarity with Palestinians and the Gaza Strip and in condemnation of Israel and the US, in the Houthi-run capital Sanaa on July 4, 2025. (Photo by Mohammed HUWAIS / AFP)

Israel has attacked Houthi targets in three Yemeni ports and a power plant, the Israeli military said early on Monday, marking the first Israeli attack on Yemen in almost a month.

The strikes on Hodeidah, Ras Isa and Salif ports, and Ras Qantib power plant were due to repeated Houthi attacks on Israel, the military added.

Hours after the strikes, the Israeli military said two missiles were launched from Yemen and attempts were made to intercept them, but the results of interception were still under review.

The Israeli ambulance service said it had not received any calls regarding missile impacts or casualties following the launches from Yemen.

Since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have fired at Israel and at shipping in the Red Sea, disrupting global trade, in what it says are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians.

Most of the dozens of missiles and drones fired toward Israel have been intercepted or fallen short. Israel has carried out a series of retaliatory strikes.
Israel also attacked Galaxy Leader ship in Ras Isa port, which was seized by Houthis in late 2023, the military added on Monday.

"The Houthi terrorist regime's forces installed a radar system on the ship, and are using it to track vessels in international maritime space, in order to promote the Houthi terrorist regime’s activities," Reuters quoted the military as saying.

The Houthi military spokesperson said following the attacks that Houthis' air defenses confronted the Israeli attack 'by using a large number of domestically produced surface-to-air missiles'.

Residents told Reuters that the Israeli strikes on the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah put the main power station out of service, leaving the city in darkness.

The assault comes hours after a ship was attacked off Hodeidah and the ship's crew abandoned it as it took on water.

Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened further strikes.

“What’s true for Iran is true for Yemen,” Katz said in a statement. “Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have it cut off. The Houthis will continue to pay a heavy price for their actions.”