ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot emphasized the need to keep Iraq out of the conflicts in the region, during a joint presser in Baghdad on Wednesday.

The French top diplomat arrived in the Iraqi capital on Wednesday morning as part of a regional tour to push for a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

In a joint press conference, Hussein lauded the bilateral relations between the two countries and France’s role as part of the US-led global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS), adding that they discussed issues relating to defense and purchasing weapons from France.

Hussein said that Baghdad supports the ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, calling the negotiations “the only solution to reach peaceful results and understandings,” adding that he and Barrot also discussed “the need to distance the region from war.”

Barrot said that France stands with Iraq and supports its sovereignty, adding that “a strong Iraq is a source of strength for the region.”

“It is important that Iraq not be dragged into any wars in the region,” said the French foreign minister, commending the efforts of the Iraqi government toward that end.

“A political solution must be found in Gaza, humanitarian aid must be allowed to enter, and we support the Arab plan for its reconstruction,” he added.

On October 7, 2023, Palestinian Hamas launched the al-Aqsa Flood operation, an unprecedented aerial and ground attack into southern Israel that killed around 1,200 people.

In response, Israel launched a full-scale military aggression against Gaza which is still ongoing a year later. Over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed as a result of the Israeli offensive.

The Israeli military has also expanded its operations to Lebanon, carrying out heavy attacks that have targeted civilian areas, leading to significant casualties and widespread destruction.

Tensions between Israel and Iran have also sharply escalated during this period. The situation reached a boiling point when Israel reportedly carried out targeted assassinations of senior pro-Iran leaders.

Barrot’s visit comes as France seeks to expand its diplomatic role in the conflict and to facilitate the opening of humanitarian corridors to the Gaza Strip.