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A senior government official says Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has warned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the “risks to Iraq” from the growing conflict between Israel and Iran.
The official added that Iran was using “deception” when asked to distance its allied militias from the war.
Political and government figures are increasingly worried that Iraq could be hit, after two Israeli soldiers were killed in a drone strike on the Golan Heights early Friday.
Speaking anonymously, the official said al-Sudani was taking steps to keep Iraq out of the conflict.
These efforts include ramping up “political mediation” to persuade militias not to involve Iraq.
The prime minister “informed Coordination Framework leaders of the risks” and urged them to “act quickly,” the official said.
The official also warned that an attack was still possible, saying intelligence showed the Iraqi militias launched the strike from outside Iraq, using weapons that came from Iraqi territory.
Al-Sudani’s mediation efforts
The Iraqi premier has chosen mediators, approved by Iran, to negotiate with militias about the conflict and conditions for de-escalation. These three individuals have previously acted as mediators in past crises.
Last week, Asharq Al-Awsat reported that al-Sudani asked three key Shiite figures to intervene and prevent militias from getting involved in the war between Hezbollah and Israel, after reports surfaced that Israel had identified 35 Iraqi targets.
Al-Awsat confirmed that Ammar al-Hakim is among the mediators, along with two other influential Shiite leaders whose names haven’t been disclosed.
However, two Iraqi militias—likely the al-Nujaba Movement led by Akram al-Kaabi and Kataib Hezbollah led by Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi—have refused to cooperate and continued launching rocket attacks on Israel.
The Iraqi official admitted that some militias are “stubborn,” but stressed that al-Sudani knew Iraq is “at the centre of the storm.”
He reportedly told leaders of the Coordination Framework, “Iraq cannot avoid a military strike if it happens, so we must stay out of the war to protect the country.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in a Friday sermon, stated that “Iran’s allies in the region won’t back down,” increasing concerns that Iraqi militias tied to Iran will continue attacking Israel.
Iraqi sources also reported that the Coordination Framework had reviewed an “intelligence report” on dozens of Iraqi targets that Israel might strike or assassinate.
Government efforts to prevent escalation
Al-Sudani has blocked the flow of Iraqi funds into conflict zones, unlike previous leaders, according to the official.
He has worked closely with the US and its Treasury Department to strictly monitor financial movements, often insisting that Iran use official channels to claim its dues from Iraq.
The official also said global auditing firms are now helping Iraq’s central bank oversee financial transactions, shutting down all previous routes for illicit money flows.
Since the Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, the US told Iraq it pressured Israel not to strike Iraq, as long as Iraq stays out of the conflict, the official added.
"The US doesn’t oppose Iraq’s stance of condemning Israel, supporting Lebanon and Palestine, and sending aid. But it “won’t accept any financial or military support to militias,” the official stated.
Regarding Iran’s role, the official said Tehran claimed militias acted independently, dodging responsibility for reining them in.
