Iraq’s outgoing Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani, affirmed that since assuming his duties in the current caretaker government, he has been keen on building “friendships” that serve the country—seemingly in response to a statement made by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Iraq.

In a post on the platform “X,” Al-Sudani wrote, “Since I took on this responsibility, I have been keen to build friendships that serve Iraq.”

He added, “I realized from the beginning that friendships—not hostility—are what ensure our country’s stability, growth, and prosperity.”

Trump had stated in remarks to reporters at the end of a lengthy U.S. administration session at the White House that “since the destruction of Iran’s nuclear facilities, Iraq has become a completely different country. Its relations with the United States have improved.” He added, “The Prime Minister of Iraq even nominated me for the Nobel Peace Prize.”

He also noted that Tehran had previously been a bully in the Middle East, exerting pressure on Iraq and dominating the region for a long time, but that is no longer the case “after we destroyed its nuclear weapon.”