DUBAI, UAE - Iraq’s foreign minister said Thursday that the United States has raised issues related to increasing pressure on Iran, including a proposal to halt gas imports from Tehran, however Baghdad aims to maintain a balanced relationship with both Washington and Tehran.

In an interview with Al Hadath, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said Iraq remains committed to strategic dialogue with the US and expressed no concerns about engaging with the new American administration.

Hussein also revealed that Washington has sent informal messages regarding the situation of armed factions in Iraq. 

Hussein warned that Israeli threats of a possible strike inside the country remain a concern.

Armed factions have ceased attacks on US led Coalition Forces due to regional developments, he said. 

However, discussions on disarming groups operating outside state control require internal deliberations, he added.

Despite these tensions, Hussein maintained that these factions do not pose a threat to the Coalition’s presence in Iraq.

The minister also warned of renewed concerns over ISIS, citing suspicious movements by the terrorist organization that have raised alarm within the government.

Regarding the withdrawal of US forces, Hussein said the timeline for their departure remains unchanged.

Iraq and the US in September 2024 announced they had reached an agreement to wrap up the coalition’s military presence in the country by “no later than the end of September 2025” and transition to bilateral security partnerships “in a manner that supports Iraqi forces and maintains pressure on ISIS.”

The coalition’s military mission in Syria is set to continue until September 2026.