Baghdad: Europe and the Arabs – Agencies

The Iraqi Ministry of Interior announced that Iraq has advanced three places in the United Nations' security ranking. The Ministry's media office stated in a press release received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that "Minister of Interior Abdul Amir al-Shammari met in his office with the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Operations, Atul Khare. During the meeting, they discussed prospects for joint cooperation between the Ministry of Interior and UN missions operating in Iraq, particularly in security matters, logistical support, and the exchange of expertise."

According to the statement, the Assistant Secretary-General praised "the pivotal role played by Iraq and the significant efforts exerted by the Iraqi Ministry of Interior in providing the necessary support and protection for UN missions throughout their work in the country," emphasizing that "this cooperation has directly contributed to the success of these missions and the achievement of their objectives." The UN official also noted that "the United Nations has recorded significant progress in the security situation in Iraq, moving from category (E) to category (B), placing it among the countries considered secure." He explained that "this category is one of the most important indicators adopted by the United Nations for measuring the quality of security and stability."

For his part, the Minister of the Interior affirmed the Ministry's commitment to "continuing constructive cooperation with international organizations, foremost among them the United Nations, in a way that enhances security and stability and supports Iraq's progress towards further institutional and security development."

This comes after the United States asserted that any Iraqi government subservient to Iran would be unable to prioritize Iraq's national interests, a comment reflecting continued US concerns about Tehran's influence in Baghdad, according to US media. The US State Department confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani the efforts to form a new Iraqi government, in an attempt to accelerate the political process and ensure stability, according to the Cairo-based website "Youm7".

Washington praises Iraq's efforts in combating ISIS.

The US State Department praised Iraqi efforts in transferring ISIS members from Syria to Iraq, stressing that such steps contribute to reducing the organization's threat to the region.

The State Department added that Senator Rubio held telephone talks with the Iraqi Prime Minister, addressing the repatriation of ISIS members to their countries of origin and discussing security strategies and international cooperation in combating terrorism.