fbpx
X

News & Publications

September 11, 2018

Experts Push Back on White House Statement Blaming Iran for Recent Attacks in Iraq

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, September 11, 2018
CONTACT: Brett Abrams | [email protected]

WASHINGTON, DC — Earlier today, the Trump Administration issued a statement blaming Iran for recent attacks in Iraq. Over the weekend, Iraqi protesters, angry over economic conditions and poor public services, burned the Iranian consulate. Unknown assailants also reportedly fired rockets as Basra airport, which houses the US consulate, and at the Green Zone in Baghdad, which houses the US embassy. There is no evidence that Iran contributed to these attacks in anyway.

In reaction to the White House’s statement this afternoon, Jamal Abdi, President of the National Iranian American Council, issued the following statement:

“The White House statement this afternoon blaming Iran for attacks in Iraq in recent days ominously highlights the Trump administration’s eagerness to cross tripwires for conflict with Iran.

“The administration preemptively blaming Iran for future attacks on U.S. government facilities or personnel in Iraq invites any group eager for a U.S.-Iran war to plant the seeds for a disastrous conflict. It is critically important for all actors to step back from the brink and initiate backchannel dialogue to prevent escalation.

“The fact that the administration is stacked with those who have advocated war with Iran, including John Bolton and Mike Pompeo, should heighten scrutiny over the administration’s claim of Iranian responsibility for failing to rein in its proxies.”

 

# # # # #

Back to top