{"id":14225,"date":"2020-09-30T20:40:01","date_gmt":"2020-09-30T20:40:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/09\/30\/iraqi-official-to-us-reconsiders-embassy-closure\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T05:30:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T05:30:54","slug":"iraqi-official-to-us-reconsiders-embassy-closure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/09\/30\/iraqi-official-to-us-reconsiders-embassy-closure\/","title":{"rendered":"Iraqi official to US: Reconsider embassy closure"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BAGHDAD \u2014 Iraq\u2019s foreign minister on Wednesday said his country hopes the U.S. will reconsider its decision to close its diplomatic mission in Baghdad, as a group of ambassadors expressed their willingness to help Iraq tackle security challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fuad Hussein spoke at a news conference during a heated week sparked by the U.S. warning that it was taking measures to close its embassy in Baghdad<\/a>. The U.S. said it would be closed unless the Iraqi government took action to stop frequent rocket and improvised explosive device attacks by Iran-backed militias and rogue armed elements against the American presence in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hussein called the threat to close the U.S. Embassy \u201cdangerous\u201d because \u201cthere is a possibility that the American withdrawal from Baghdad will lead to other (embassy) withdrawals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t