During an unannounced visit to Baghdad on Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani to urge preventive measures against the transit of Iranian arms and military supplies through Iraq into Syria.

Although a U.S. official accompanying Blinken confirmed that there is currently no evidence of Iran transporting arms through Iraq, the request was framed as a precautionary move to avert potential threats to regional stability.

The visit to Iraq was part of Blinken’s broader Middle East tour, which included a stop in Turkey where he met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In his discussions with Prime Minister al-Sudani, Blinken highlighted the fragile situation in Syria, raising concerns that Iranian arms shipments could strengthen Iran-backed militia groups or further destabilize the region.

The U.S. has also voiced ongoing concerns regarding the activities of Iran-backed Shia militia groups within Iraq. Blinken urged al-Sudani to intensify efforts to curb the influence and actions of these groups, which have previously been implicated in attacks targeting U.S. personnel stationed in the country.

In addition to addressing security issues, Blinken reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to its strategic partnership with Iraq, emphasizing support for Iraq’s security, stability, and sovereignty. He also reiterated the U.S. stance on the Syrian crisis, advocating for a Syrian-led political process aimed at establishing an inclusive and representative civilian government.