Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani is set to embark on a regional tour starting with Iran, according to reports from the Iraqi News Agency. This comes amid ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, including the intensification of the Israel-Hamas war.

Prime Minister Al-Sudani's first stop will be in the Iranian capital, Tehran, before proceeding to Gulf countries, with which Iraq has recently improved relations. The press release stated that the visit will focus on discussing the "developments in Gaza."

Iraq has strongly condemned the Israeli bombardments of Gaza, which began on October 7 following a surprise incursion by Hamas into the Jewish state. The conflict has led to a significant loss of life, with at least 1,400 people killed and more than 200 taken as hostages.

Over the past four weeks, regional leaders and Western countries have been working to contain the violence in Gaza, aiming to prevent the escalation of the long-standing conflict. Iranian-backed militia groups in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen have launched aerial attacks against Israel and its ally, the United States, in recent weeks, raising concerns about the expansion of the conflict.

Amid these fears, Prime Minister Al-Sudani emphasized on Saturday that Iraq would independently decide its stance on the matter, stating, "The [Iraqi] State is responsible for making major decisions in accordance with the constitution and based on the highest interest of the Iraqis."

The Israeli forces initiated ground operations in the Gaza Strip in late October with the goal of "destroying Hamas military infrastructure," which they claim is deeply entrenched in the densely populated enclave. However, Israel has faced strong backlash from regional countries and international organizations due to the high number of civilian casualties. According to figures compiled by the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, more than 9,000 people have been killed since the conflict began on October 7.

Prime Minister Al-Sudani's regional tour will likely play a significant role in addressing the ongoing turmoil and the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Middle East.