Iraq summons UK charge d'Affaires over ambassador's remarks on security and politics

Shafaq News/ Iraq's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the United Kingdom's Charge d'Affaires on Sunday to lodge a formal protest over remarks made by the British Ambassador to Iraq, Stephen Hitchen, regarding the country's security and political situation.

The Ministry issued a statement saying that the ambassador's comments painted a "grim picture" of Iraq's government and its various components, calling them "an interference in Iraq's internal affairs and a breach of diplomatic norms."

During the meeting with the Charge d'Affaires, the head of the Europe Department, Ambassador Bakr Ahmed Al Jaff, emphasized that "partnerships come with both opportunities and challenges," urging the British government to "approach Iraq with a focus on mutual interests and to avoid actions that contradict the serious efforts of the Iraqi government and its constitutional institutions, which have worked to establish diverse economic and developmental pathways following significant efforts to enhance security and stability."

The controversy arose after Ambassador Hitchen appeared on a TV program two days ago, where he discussed Iraq's internal situation, including the role of the country's top Shia religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. Hitchen stated that al-Sistani is independent and not influenced by the UK, countering claims to the contrary.