Office of the Spokesperson
The following is attributable to Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus:
Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo spoke recently with Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abd al-Mahdi. Secretary Pompeo condemned the recent violence in Iraq and noted that those who violated human rights should be held accountable. Secretary Pompeo reiterated that peaceful public demonstrations are a fundamental element of all democracies, and emphasized that there is no place for violence in demonstrations, either by security forces or protestors. The Secretary lamented the tragic loss of life over the past few days and urged the Iraqi government to exercise maximum restraint. He also reaffirmed the United States’ enduring commitment to a strong, sovereign, and prosperous Iraq, as outlined in our bilateral Strategic Framework Agreement. Secretary Pompeo encouraged Prime Minister Abd al-Mahdi to take immediate steps to address the protestors’ grievances by enacting reforms and tackling corruption.