Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, warning of a new wave of global threats, including “occupation,” “terrorism,” and blatant disregard for international law. However, his speech was notable for its glaring omission of any mention of Iran’s role in perpetuating these very issues in the region.
Instead, Al Sudani focused on condemning Israel’s self-defense operations in Gaza, urging the international community to put an end to what he described as “violations” in Palestine and the region. He also criticized Israel’s strikes against Hezbollah, a terrorist group backed by Iran, without providing any context for the military operations.
The absence of any mention of Iran in Al Sudani’s speech is particularly striking, given the country’s significant influence in Iraq and its role in fueling regional crises. In recent years, the Iraqi government has empowered Iran-backed militias, including the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), which have repeatedly threatened American forces in the country.
Al Sudani’s speech seemed to address the very threats posed by Iran, but without actually mentioning the country. He spoke of the importance of upholding principles such as sovereignty, territorial integrity, and humanitarian law, but his words rang hollow given Iraq’s own record of ignoring these principles.
The prime minister also painted a rosy picture of the situation in Iraq, highlighting infrastructure development and the restoration of cities after the defeat of the Islamic State. However, his claims of “good developments” in the country were at odds with the reality of Iran’s growing influence and the ongoing threat posed by Iran-backed militias.
Al Sudani’s speech concluded with a call for international support to help Iraq recover looted assets and a warning about the dangers of climate change, which he claimed was exacerbating social and political crises in the country. However, his failure to address the elephant in the room – Iran’s role in perpetuating regional instability – undermined the credibility of his message.
