Muqtada Says, "Not On My Watch"

Iraq will not let United States use its territory to launch strikes against Iraq, according to the leader of the parliamentary bloc of radical anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

“We will not allow the American forces to strike Iran to achieve what it wants because the Islamic Republic of Iran is one of our neighbours.” He said. “Iran is our big neighbour who and deals with us diplomatically without meddling in our internal affairs.”

He added that Iran has the technical capacity to assist in the rebuilding of the his war torn nation.

Member of the House of Representatives Fread Raunduzi of the Kurdistan Alliance called on the Iraqi government and the government of Kurdistan region to “make a substantial effort” secure the release of Iranian diplomats detained by the US forces following the seize of the consulate in Erbil, an act which has “caused problems in the relationship between the Iraqi government and Iran.”