On Sunday, Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally expressed strong objection to recent media statements made by British Ambassador to Baghdad Stephen Irfan Siddiq on August 8, which the ministry deemed contrary to diplomatic norms and an interference in Iraq’s internal affairs.
In a statement, the ministry said that during a meeting held at its headquarters, Deputy Foreign Minister for Bilateral Affairs, Ambassador Mohammed Hussein Bahr Al-Uloom, conveyed the Iraqi government’s concern over the ambassador’s remarks. He emphasized that such behavior contradicts the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which obligates diplomatic representatives to respect the laws of the host country and refrain from interfering in its internal matters.
The ministry urged the British ambassador to avoid making similar statements or engaging in related activities, calling for conduct that strengthens friendly relations between Iraq and the United Kingdom.
The Foreign Ministry reaffirmed the importance of constructive diplomatic communication and adherence to principles of mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states.
Ambassador Siddiq had recently made televised comments in which he stated that “there is no longer a need for the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).”
In his remarks, he said, “All armed factions are part of the PMF, and it’s no longer possible for the PMF to play the same role it did during the war against ISIS.”
He added, “The Iraqi government is calling for the withdrawal of the international coalition forces because the war against ISIS has ended, and the need for the coalition no longer exists. If the war against ISIS were still ongoing, the coalition wouldn’t be asked to leave. The same applies to the PMF—its necessity ended with the conclusion of the war against ISIS.”