Ihssan Al Shamri

Head of Iraqi Center for Political Thinking Ihssan Al Shamri said that the policy adopted by Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi is based on neutralizing the foes and strengthen diplomatic relations with the other countries. He added that the recent meetings conducted by the Iraqi official focused on the future of Mousl after the liberation of the city from the grip of ISIS extremist group.

He added, in an interview with “Arabs Today”, Iran began to understand that Iraq enjoys its sovereign decision, stressing that the Iranian should respect Iraq’s choices and interests on the level of foreign relations. He warned the country for taking a side at the expense of others, adding that such approach could the country to a state of chaos.

He added that over five thousand extremists entered the country from the Saudi territories to fight in Iraq, blaming Saudi parties for turning Iraq into an arena for the extremists. He praised the steps taken to restore the relations between Iraq and Saudi during the recent period, adding that such steps could suspend the organizations working to harm the Iraqi interests.

Regarding the American airstrike against Syria, he said that the American attack comes to restore the era of American power upon the promises taken by U.S President Donald Trump during his electoral campaign. He praised the Iraqi airstrike against the strongholds of ISIS extremists in Syria, saying that the attack is considered a turning point in Iraq’s strategy in dealing with the extremism.

He added that there are cells working to destabilize the country, adding that the Iraqi government should work to cooperate with the Syrian authorities during the coming period on the security and intelligence level. He underlined the Iraqi experience in dealing with the terrorist threat, adding that it could perform a major role to eliminate ISIS in the near future.

He added that Iraqi parliament refused a proposal to divide Nineveh into three provinces, saying that the decision could perform a major role to achieve stability in the province during the coming period and to undermine the other foreign scenarios.