Baghdad dismisses allegations of diplomatic role between Washington and Tehran
BAGHDAD: Iraq on Friday firmly denied a media report alleging that it had acted as an intermediary in efforts to secure a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, describing the claims as inaccurate.
In a statement carried by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), the Iraqi prime minister’s media office said the report published by The New York Times was “completely baseless” and had “no connection to reality.”
The statement urged media organisations to verify information through official sources and avoid publishing or circulating unverified claims attributed to anonymous officials.
The New York Times, citing Iranian and Iraqi officials familiar with the matter, had reported that Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi conveyed a US-backed proposal during a visit to Tehran after meeting US President Donald Trump at the White House.
Report cites unnamed officials
According to the newspaper, the proposal represented the only ceasefire framework currently under discussion. However, the report said Iranian officials rejected the proposal because it did not address Tehran’s position regarding control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iraqi authorities did not comment directly on the substance of the reported proposal but categorically denied playing any mediation role between Washington and Tehran.
The conflicting accounts emerged amid heightened diplomatic activity as regional governments continue to monitor the escalating confrontation between the United States and Iran.
Regional tensions remain high
Tensions have intensified since US President Donald Trump announced on July 8 that the ceasefire framework outlined in the previous month’s US-Iran memorandum of understanding was no longer in effect.
Since then, the United States and Iran have exchanged military strikes. Washington has targeted sites inside Iran, while Tehran has said it carried out attacks against US military facilities and equipment across several countries in the region.
The confrontation has also disrupted commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns over global energy supplies. In addition, intermittent airspace closures and growing security warnings regarding potential attacks on US interests beyond the Middle East have heightened international concern.
Neither US nor Iranian officials publicly commented on Iraq’s denial following the statement issued by Baghdad on Friday.
