Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein Discusses Risks of Escalation and Regional Implications in Phone Call with Portuguese Counterpart

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq, H.E. Mr. Fuad Hussein, held a phone call on Friday, March 13, 2026, with the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Paulo Rangel, during which they discussed the serious regional developments and avenues to reduce escalation and promote de-escalation.

During the call, H.E. the Portuguese minister expressed his government’s full solidarity with the Government and people of Iraq in facing the challenges and attacks targeting its territory. He stressed that the ongoing war represents a threat with multiple dimensions, particularly after it has expanded to other countries in the region.

H.E. noted that the Portuguese government will work, within the framework of the European Union, and possibly in coordination with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), to engage with the United States of America in order to push for a ceasefire and a return to negotiations.

For his part, H.E. Mr. Fuad Hussein expressed his gratitude to the Portuguese minister and the Government of Portugal for their solidarity with the Iraqi people in the face of the attacks they are experiencing.

H.E. emphasized that the ongoing war has generated a series of problems that could, over time, evolve into complex crises. H.E. pointed out that the inability to export oil or the reduction in its production has led to significant problems that could escalate to affect the oil and energy markets and negatively impact the European economy, and may even contribute to problems within the United States of America due to rising gasoline prices.

H.E. also explained that the danger of the war for Iraq is not limited to attacks and breaches of the security situation but also extends to the possibility of disruptions in oil exports due to military risks in the Strait of Hormuz. This situation, H.E. noted, requires finding a genuine solution to the crisis through a ceasefire and a return to the diplomatic track.

At the conclusion of the call, H.E. the Portuguese foreign minister affirmed his country’s desire to develop bilateral relations with Iraq, noting that Portugal has decided to reopen its embassy in Baghdad once the war in the region comes to an end.