Iraq marks National Day amid calls to reduce U.S. Embassy staff

The United States Department of State issued a statement congratulating the people of Iraq on their National Day, marking the 94th anniversary of Iraq joining the League of Nations and gaining independence from British mandate in 1932. The U.S. highlighted the deep friendship between the two nations, referencing Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s visit to Washington in July and his meeting with President Trump. The statement emphasized economic partnerships and a shared commitment to a prosperous future and regional stability.

Concurrently, in Baghdad, a member of the Iraqi Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee, Mukhtar Al-Yousef, announced plans to propose legislation that would compel the government to reduce the number of diplomatic and administrative staff at the U.S. Embassy. Al-Yousef argued that the current staff levels, estimated between 350 and 500 employees, exceed diplomatic norms and pose security risks by facilitating intelligence gathering. He called for the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs to apply the principle of reciprocity, matching the size of the U.S. mission to the number of Iraqi staff in the United States.