The Deputy Foreign Minister for Bilateral Relations, Mohammed Hussein Bahr al-Uloom, and the Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy, Stephen Fagan, signed today, Thursday, an agreement for the Iraqi government to hand over the diplomatic support site associated with the U.S. Embassy at Baghdad International Airport.
The Foreign Ministry stated in a statement received by the Video News Agency that this move comes as part of the Iraqi government's efforts to complete the procedures related to the end of the international coalition's mission and the foreign military presence in Iraq, according to the timeline set for September 30, 2026.
It added that Bahr al-Uloom emphasized the importance of this step in strengthening Iraqi-American relations and moving them to a new phase of cooperation and partnership in economic, development, and energy sectors, while Fagan expressed his country's support for developing relations based on the agreements and understandings concluded and in a manner that respects the sovereignty of both countries.
Both sides confirmed at the conclusion of the ceremony that the signing of the agreement represents one of the steps to organize relations between the two countries and to prepare the appropriate frameworks for transitioning to a new phase based on expanding areas of convergence and joint work.