The top U.S. diplomat in Iraq warned that Washington would not work with any Iraqi government that includes armed factions the United States considers terrorist groups, putting new pressure on Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s new government as it faces demands to restore state authority over armed groups.
In an interview with MBN in Baghdad, Joshua Harris, the U.S. chargé d’affaires in Iraq, said the Trump administration supports al-Zaidi’s effort to build a government “free from terrorism,” but made clear that the future of the U.S.-Iraq partnership depends on whether Baghdad moves to disarm and dismantle militias operating outside state control.
“My government’s position has been very clear in this regard,” Harris said. “The inclusion of actors that we consider to be terrorists within any government in any way is simply not going to take our relationship forward. It’s not a government that we can work with.”
The warning comes as Iraq’s new leadership faces pressure to assert the authority of the state and prevent armed factions from shaping the next phase of government. Harris did not name specific groups in the interview, but repeatedly described the challenge as one involving “terrorist militias” and said their weapons must be brought under the authority of the Iraqi state.
“The foundation of a mutually beneficial partnership comes back to reestablishing security, to deal with the challenge of these militias, to confine their weapons within the hands of the Iraqi state,” Harris said.
Asked whether Washington believed al-Zaidi’s government would be free of armed factions, Harris said the composition of the Iraqi government is “a sovereign matter for Iraq to decide,” but added that Washington’s response is also a sovereign decision for the United States.
“The inclusion of actors that my government consider to be terrorists within a government, any government, of any capacity,” he said, “that certainly is not going to be compatible with the type of partnership any of us want to see.”
Harris said President Donald Trump and U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Tom Barrack had made clear their support for al-Zaidi’s success, but tied that support to the formation of a government able to restore sovereignty and deliver for Iraqis.
“President Trump has spoken very clearly to this in expressing his support and best wishes to the prime minister in succeeding in forming a government that is free from terrorism and able to deliver a bright future, a future for the people of this country and for our partnership,” Harris said.
Harris described the current moment as “very significant” for Iraq, saying the country must “reestablish the full authority of the state” and “fully reestablish its sovereignty.” He said Washington was engaged in intensive talks with al-Zaidi, his government and other Iraqi officials to see “results” on disarmament.
“Tangible and irreversible action on disarmament and the dismantling of these militias cannot wait,” Harris said. “Last words. Cannot wait. Is urgent.”
The U.S. diplomat also pointed to recent violence against U.S. interests, Iraqi civilians, the Kurdistan region and regional partners, saying the attacks showed why Iraq must not allow armed factions to drag the country into conflict.
“There were many hundreds of horrific terrorist attacks conducted against even this embassy, against U.S. interests, against Iraqi civilians, against the Kurdistan region, against our friends and partners in the region,” Harris said.
He added that his impression from conversations with Iraqis was that Iraqi territory should not be used “in any way as a threat to regional peace,” or “to try to drag this country into violence and chaos.”
When asked whether the United States would confront factions militarily if they refused to surrender their weapons, Harris first declined to speculate. But he said Washington would protect its citizens and interests.
“We will always use our tools to protect our own interests, to protect American citizens, to protect the interests of the United States,” Harris said. “And the tools of American power are always there, and we will always use our tools.”
Harris said the United States wants to maintain a relationship with Iraq that is strong and “mutually beneficial,” including in security, energy and economic cooperation. But he repeatedly said that cooperation depends on whether Iraq can restore state authority over armed groups.
“The United States wants to be able to operate in Iraq and advance a mutually beneficial relationship in security,” he said. “We do not want our embassy, our companies, our citizens to be in danger, to be attacked.”
On Iraq’s energy sector, Harris said U.S. companies could help Baghdad address long-running problems in oil, gas and electricity, including fuel shortages and power generation gaps. He said American companies were working to expand LNG import capacity, develop gas resources and capture associated gas from oil production.
“What will move our relationship forward,” Harris said, “is to rapidly see Iraq be successful in building a future that is sovereign, that is stable, that is prosperous.”
He said the goal must be a partnership that produces “real benefits, tangible benefits for the Iraqi people and for the United States.”
“Action is absolutely critical,” Harris said.
