The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday condemned recent remarks by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, describing them as a breach of diplomatic norms and an unwarranted interference in Iraq’s internal affairs, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported.
According to an INA statement, the Ministry hosted the Turkish Ambassador to Iraq, Anil Bora Inan, following Fidan’s comments in a televised interview on CNN Turkey on February 9, 2026.
In the interview in question, Fidan said: “There is also an Iraq dimension to this matter. After the Syria phase is over, there is the Iraq phase. Hopefully, they will draw lessons in Iraq from what happened here and make a wiser decision, so that the transition there will be smoother.”
According to INA, the Iraqi Ministry’s Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations, Ambassador Mohammed Hussein Bahr Al-Uloom, expressed Baghdad’s strong disapproval of the statements, emphasizing that they damage the long-standing friendly relations between Iraq and Turkey and constitute a violation of diplomatic protocol. He reaffirmed that Iraq, as a constitutional democratic state, cannot be equated with countries that have different political systems.
Regarding internal matters, Bahr Al-Uloom stressed that issues such as Sinjar and other Iraqi territories are strictly national concerns, managed in accordance with Iraq’s priorities and internal mechanisms. He underscored Baghdad’s rejection of any external attempts to impose solutions or exploit such issues for political or military influence.
Ambassador Inan responded that Fidan’s remarks were inaccurately interpreted due to mistranslation, clarifying that the minister was referring specifically to elements of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) operating in Iraq, and not to Iraqi internal affairs or its citizens. He reaffirmed that Turkey’s policy toward Iraq remains consistent, respects Iraqi sovereignty, and does not interfere in domestic matters.
The ambassador concluded by stressing his government’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, pledging to convey Iraq’s concerns to Ankara, and highlighting the importance of maintaining ties that serve the interests of both nations.
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