‘I listened’: Trump’s Syria envoy says visited Baghdad to hear Iraq’s concerns

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Tom Barrack, US special envoy for Syria, said President Donald Trump sent him to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani last week to hear about Iraq’s concerns and how Washington can help.

“I was sent on behalf of my president to see what is there, how we can help, what the issues are, whether we are helping or hurting, and what is available. I was sent to listen, and I listened,” Barrack told Rudaw on the sidelines of the Doha Forum on Saturday.

“We have great respect for Prime Minister Sudani. It’s a very difficult and complicated situation in Iraq,” he added. “My role was simply to listen and convey that President Trump would like to help—whatever is good for Iraq, we will do. And that’s what I did: I listened.”

Their meeting last week, according to a statement from the Iraqi prime minister’s office, focused on “practical ways through which Iraq can continue to support the stability, security, prosperity, and economic recovery of Syria, while simultaneously enhancing Iraq’s own stability and prosperity.”

The discussions also “reviewed mutual perspectives on preventing further escalation in the region, supporting a diplomatic path to resolving disputes, and putting the region on a course toward cooperation, economic growth, and long-term stability,” according to Sudani’s office.

Barrack acknowledged that the situation is “very complicated” in Iraq, which is in the middle of negotiations to form the next government after last month’s election.

“It's not in my job to think about the Iraqi government. The Iraqi government is very complicated,” he said. “We have Baghdad, we have Erbil, we have KRG [the Kurdistan Regional Government], we have PMF [the Popular Mobilization Forces], you have the federal government, you have so many complicated pieces, and you have Iranian militias that have their own venue. So as parliament forms, which is their process, that coalition process will take its own course in accordance with what the Iraqis want.”

“We have not been successful in providing a solution over the last 20 years. My boss’s philosophy is the same: it’s time for the region to support each other in resolving these problems, and for us to stop being an obstacle,” he added.

Baghdad this week drew criticism from Washington after reversing a decision to freeze the assets of Lebanese Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi movement because of “participation in committing a terrorist act.” When news of the decision broke, Sudani quickly called it an “error” and ordered an investigation.

The US Department of State told Rudaw on Friday that it was “disappointed” the freezing of Hezbollah and Houthi assets would not be upheld.

Barrack’s rare visit to Baghdad followed remarks by Mark Savaya, Trump's new special envoy to Iraq, who told Rudaw last week that “big changes are coming to Iraq.” Savaya has spoken out against pro-Iran militia groups in Iraq and weapons outside of the government’s control.

[Source: Rûdaw English]