Peregraf- The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed astonishment today at comments made by the spokesperson of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding Iraq’s elections, describing them as a clear and unacceptable interference in the country’s internal affairs.
In an official statement, the Ministry said it “followed the statements made by the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, concerning the elections in the Republic of Iraq.”
The Ministry added that it views these remarks as “provocative and constituting a clear and rejected interference in Iraq’s internal affairs, as the electoral process is a purely national matter, governed exclusively by the will of the Iraqi people and their constitutional institutions.”
The statement emphasized that “Iraq maintains balanced relations with its neighbors based on mutual respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs,” and stressed that “good neighborly relations require strict adherence to these principles and avoiding any statements or positions that undermine Iraq’s sovereignty or interfere in its domestic matters.”
The diplomatic friction emerged after the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmaeil Baghaei, commented on the elections. In his remarks, Baghaei criticized what he termed U.S. meddling, stating, “Any foreign interference in this process is unacceptable to the people and government of Iraq as well as to regional countries. U.S. meddling has been harmful, consistently leading to insecurity and instability.”
However, he also appeared to weigh in on the election's significance, asserting that Iraq's security and stability are vital for Iran. “Our neighbor knows how to manage its relations with other actors. Our ties with Iraq are friendly, and regardless of the election outcome, our relations will continue,” Baghaei said, while adding that “Iraq’s elections are an internal matter, and we hope its people will play their full role in shaping their country’s political future.”
The exchange comes at a critical time, as Iraq completed special voting for its parliamentary elections on Tuesday, with the general vote scheduled for tomorrow.