Official Baghdad has categorically rejected information circulated by The New York Times that Iraq acted as a mediator between Iran and the United States in negotiations on a ceasefire. In a statement from the Iraqi prime minister’s office, the report is described as “unreliable and bears no relation to reality.” It refers to a purported Iranian refusal of a U.S. proposal. Iraqi authorities urged the media to verify information through official channels and not to circulate unconfirmed data from anonymous sources.
According to The New York Times, Iraqi mediation began after Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad as-Sudani met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House about ten days ago. The outlet claimed that Iranian officials concluded that the American version of a settlement did not meet Tehran’s key requirements, first and foremost regarding future control of the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, in Iran, the U.S. proposal was called “the only one currently on the negotiating table.”
During as-Sudani’s visit to Tehran, he held meetings with Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian, the chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, and the foreign minister Abbas Araqchi. Araqchi, in turn, said the problem was not a lack of mediators, but Washington’s “illogical and hegemonistic approach.” The Iraqi prime minister shared with the Iranian side his impressions from his trip to the United States.
These developments are unfolding amid ongoing military escalation. The United States has intensified strikes on Iranian military facilities, including airfields, bridges, and ports. Iran, in response, is striking positions in the region with drones and ballistic missiles. According to The New York Times, Iranian forces are preparing for a possible widening of the conflict if Trump’s threats to attack Tehran and its vital infrastructure are carried out. In response, the outlet reports, Iran is considering an option of striking Tel Aviv and enlisting its allies—including Yemeni Houthis—to block the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb. This dynamic makes the situation around key sea routes—Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb—especially explosive, and Iraq’s denial appears to be a political signal that the real picture on the ground is more complex than what Western media are describing.
Comments on the news
- Why is Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, rather than a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, acting as the chief negotiator with Iraq? What internal political processes in Iran does this reflect? - In Iran, foreign policy is not solely the prerogative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; key decisions are made by the Supreme Leader and his close circle. Ghalibaf, as an influential politician and a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has direct access to the Supreme Leader. His appointment as chief negotiator reflects an increased role for parliament and conservative forces, as well as an effort to limit the influence of the president and reformists. It also points to factional struggles and the distribution of powers between different branches of government, in a situation where the Supreme Leader retains control over strategic issues.
- What are the real powers of Iran’s president Masud Pezeshkian, and how do they relate to the power of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei? Why, in the article, do key decisions on negotiations appear to be made by other figures rather than the president? - The Iranian president has limited authority in foreign policy and security matters, which are under the control of the Supreme Leader and his apparatus. As a reformer, Pezeshkian can influence economic and social issues, but in strategic negotiations he often plays a secondary role. The Supreme Leader has the final right of veto and oversees all key state institutions, including the IRGC, the Assembly of Experts, and the Supreme National Security Council. Therefore, key decisions on negotiations with Iraq are made through channels directly subordinated to Khamenei, rather than through the presidential administration—reflecting Iran’s constitutional structure, where the Supreme Leader’s authority significantly exceeds that of the president.
Full version: العراق ينفي تقرير نيويورك تايمز بشأن الوساطة بين إيران وأمريكا