Iraq’s Sadr movement denies secret relations with Saudi Arabia

Supporters of Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr celebrate the results of the parliamentary election at the Tahrir Square in Baghdad, Iraq, on 13 May 2018 [Murtadha Sudani/Anadolu Agency]

The head of the political bureau of the Sadrist Movement, Diya Al-Asadi, yesterday denied that the Muqtada al-Sadr has secret contacts with Saudi Arabia.

This came after Saudi Minister for Gulf Affairs, Thamer Al-Sabhan, retweeted Al-Sadr Twitter post regarding his coalition’s victory at the Iraqi elections.

Al-Asadi said: “Al-Sabhan seems to be hasty in his posts and frankly he does not understand the situation well in Iraq.”

Al-Asadi stressed that Al-Sadr will not allow Iraq to be used as a platform to attack neighbouring countries.

Al-Sadr’s Sairon coalition won the Iraqi elections held earlier this month and now have the opportunity to form the next government.

Read: Iraq’s Abadi pledges ‘strong’ government after meeting with Sadr

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