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By Tom O'Connor
Deputy Editor, National Security and Foreign Policy
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In an exclusive interview conducted ahead of fateful parliamentary elections, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani outlines to Newsweek his efforts to transform his nation from a source of unrest to a regional hub of commerce, innovation and stability.
Sudani, who came to power in October 2022 amid political turmoil that unraveled his predecessor’s administration, has thus far overseen a period of relative calm for Iraq, a feat made all the more notable by the turbulence that has consumed the region around it.
The war that erupted in Gaza one year into Sudani’s term has led to conflict and upheaval across the Middle East, with Iraqi militias also joining the fight, facing direct strikes from the United States and threats from Israel. And yet Iraq has since managed to avoid the kind of turmoil wrought by the conflict on Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and even Iran itself.
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The Iraqi premier credits this among his achievements, detailing a crucial position for his government in mediating between the U.S. and Iran, both viewed as key partners for Iraq, and reining in the activities of armed factions, who he hopes to further integrate into the nation’s political process.
Sudani sees this as part of his broader “Vision 2050” platform, a six-pillar initiative designed to redefine Iraq’s future after decades of strife. In each of these projects, Sudani touts an “Iraq First” mentality that he says aligns with the outlook of U.S. President Donald Trump.
These promises will be put to the test during Iraq’s November 11 parliamentary election, during which his Reconstruction and Development Coalition and its allies will vie for seats against an array of rivals, including influential Shiite Muslim blocs and other dynasties and independents looking to define Iraq’s future.
The following transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.
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Newsweek: I understand you have an election coming up very soon. How are you feeling?
Sudani: Of course, we are at the end of the latest government that continued for three years, because the term is four years. Previously, political differences led to the formation of the government. It was supposed to be that this government would continue for one year and then there would be early elections, according to the agreement of the political forces. But because of the performance of the government, it made all the difference to give this government a chance to be for three years.
I think what we have achieved is something to be proud of on all levels. Sometimes, we write these achievements in a booklet, but some people may read it and not focus on the value of the achievements. What we have accomplished is important and pivotal because they happened for the first time.
For example, a comprehensive census for Iraq needed to be established because any development, any planning that the government would depend on for statistics and numbers would be incomplete, so I insisted on creating a census, which had been delayed since 2010. There was a difference between the ethnic groups, which is a very sensitive issue, there was a clerical difference, there was a security problem. And so, since 2010, it was delayed.
So, this government set out on organizing a census to ensure we are meeting all the required measures and in compatibility with the entire nation, which is something that is very important for all citizens. For 48 hours, there was a curfew across all of Iraq, without the use of the security forces. And the people actually committed to that curfew and interacted with the census workers.
It’s the first digital census, it’s not a paper-based census. During Saddam Hussein’s census, I was an employee at that time, in 1997, it was a paper-based census, and the government required two years until the results were released. This census required only two months.
And this is the first comprehensive census in Iraq since 1987, so we haven’t had a comprehensive census in 37 years, as the census in 1997 excluded the Iraqi Kurdistan Region because it was separated, as you know. So, this is important, because all of the planning, all of the policies, all of the programs will be based on that census. Under the supervision of the United Nations, which issued a report praising the census, other countries in the region came to us to work with our experiences.
This is one example. There are many. For example, the local elections were delayed since 2013. In Kirkuk, it is a special situation. Because there are Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen there. And no [local] election was held since 2005, and we did that after we established a debate and discussions with assurances that they have a local government.
Our accomplishments are on the level of economic reforms, financial reforms, many service reforms, so certainly, in the end, we enter the elections with confidence. These are achievements I can speak of.
And that is something no previous prime minister has offered. They entered elections without any achievements. The people were upset, and this reflected their decision on whether or not to participate [in elections]. Unfortunately, most of the citizens decided to abstain because of the performance of the government.
It is the opposite now. The total number of citizens who registered since 2023 as new registrations to enter the elections is 5 million citizens. This is an unprecedented number and will be reflected in participation.
Newsweek: Some are calling this the most important Iraqi election since 2005. What do you view as the significance of this vote, and what has changed since the previous election to make the stakes so high for Iraq and its people?
Sudani: The difference between this election and the previous one is that this election will establish a period of sustainability and security. This stability is development. And Iraq and the youth, they will have their voice, they will have their say, their decision for a government that represents the youth. They believe this government is the closest to them, which is a very important factor.
These elections establish a democratic system in Iraq, and it comes under normal circumstances in regards that it’s not an early election. But we have observed that the voter is looking for programs.
Previously, elections were held on sectarian and ethnic platforms and now the people are looking for a vision and a program. The people now look for solutions for the problems of society and what differentiates the Coalition of Reconstruction and Development is that it has visions and achievements. This is very important. It will establish a new phase, which is the result and product of the democratic system that guarantees a peaceful transfer of power.
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Newsweek: Another thing that has changed since the previous election is the regional security equation surrounding Iraq. For the past two years, there has been a conflict in which Iraq has been involved. How has the regional security situation, including the fall of Assad in Syria and the 12-Day War between Iran and Israel, impacted Iraq internally?
Sudani: Despite all the unexpected and surprising events that carried very dangerous developments, Iraq was able to overcome this crisis and its implications that covered all the countries of the region. We did not adopt a negative neutrality, but rather we were in a positive neutral position, based on stances that throughout the developments that happened of the seventh of October and what happened after that, we are putting our interests as Iraqis first in these events. This equation was accurate, and it was a test for the government in overcoming these challenges and changes, and we have been successful.
And that established impressions for all the region, for the regional, for the international community, that it is Iraq who was a source of instability has now has become a factor of stability that it can help the efforts of the regional and international efforts to create sustainability in this volatile region.
Newsweek: There were moments when Iraqi armed factions under the banner of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq participated in some of the attacks that we saw in the region, and yet you managed to steer Iraq away from the sort of destruction we saw in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. How do you manage today the interests of these factions, which have their own stakes and will vote as well in the election?
Sudani: Since the start of the government, we have stressed the principle of the control of the law and the state and the monopoly of weapons and the government has actually made its role on many occasions. This is something very essential to realize this system of security and stability which is acknowledged by all the diplomatic missions, advisers, friends of the state coalition. This is the result of the efforts of the government to practice its role to safeguard security and stability. The violations that happened are few compared to the previous period. And it was confronted with the deterrent actions of the government.
Those who carry weapons outside of the control of state institutions is one of the files that the government has a vision to respond to this complex challenge, and we are working on different levels, legal, political and even security. There is a high percentage of these groups that are actually inclined to political work and this is a good thing. We encourage them and push them toward political work and to practice their roles in the political process and outcomes according to the voters, so that does not actually represent a hindrance, but rather we have begun a transformation in the right direction.
Newsweek: There are also external factors weighing on Iraq in terms of security. There was a time where it appeared Israel was threatening to strike Iraq. How did you manage to avoid the sort of conflict that involved other countries and are you still concerned that Iraq could be targeted by Israel, as we saw even Qatar was struck?
Sudani: Of course, we confronted such threats at that time, and we have expressed an official public stance rejecting these threats and it was part of the [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu policy about expanding the scope of the war and the conflict.
My government is committed to not allowing any group or individuals to use the Iraqi land to commit hostilities against others. This position is the position of the state. This is a decision of the state. The government alone possesses the decision of peace or war and this is not a decision that is imposed.
It is a national consensus that the government managed to mobilize all the national efforts and also the popular efforts to establish that it is the task of the government to not allow anyone to involve Iraq in any war. This is what we have managed. So, we have expressed that we reject these threats and the government is able to protect its territory. It’s not to allow any individual or group to use the Iraqi land to conduct hostilities against others and to preserve our principled stance towards what was happening and is happening in Gaza.
It was, frankly, a fear present not just in Iraq, but in all the Arab and Islamic nations. Governments were facing immense popular pressure because of the killing and starvation, people did not have water or food. These painful scenes shake the conscience of humanity, not just in Arab and Islamic countries, but in every country of the world. And this, of course, represented a pressure on the governments to generate emotional reactions. In the end, the government is in control of such positions.
In that period, Iraq had a vital role on the diplomatic level both regionally and internationally, with the United States, with the Arab countries, to stop the war and resolve discussions through meetings and conferences. We participated in the Sharm el-Sheikh conference in which we supported President Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza. We support this plan to be successful, and we continue to support it.
And of course, this was a feature of the diplomatic work of Iraq to adopt balanced stances toward the events and developments. This was a stabilizing force in the region.
At that time, we also played a valuable role, and we must play a valuable role between the United States and Iran in the necessity of coming to the table for discussions in accordance with international law, the weapons convention and to address all the concerns of the parties toward the issue. We guarantee respect for the state and its sovereignty and not resorting to threats and economic sanctions, which usually affect the people before the government.
Also, through this role that we have taken on in this stage, the Iraqi government created space and gained respect at a very difficult time.
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Newsweek: You mentioned both the United States and Iran. Obviously, these are two countries with which Iraq has relationships and yet they have undergone a period of tensions, threats exchanged and even open conflict back in June. How are you balancing between the positions of these two countries, which both want to exert some pressure and influence on your government and on Iraq as a whole?
Sudani: The nation that has the most balanced and cordial relations with the United States and Iran is Iraq. This is a positive characteristic that we have always implemented throughout the continuous tensions between the two countries in order to deescalate the situation through formal discussions. In previous years, Baghdad played a role in finding convergence between the views of these two countries, and we continue in this space.
Our relations are clear and public when it comes to these two countries. Iran is a neighboring nation. We have a 1,200-kilometer border. And there are religious, cultural and social commonalities. Iran supported the political process after 2003 and also supported Iraq’s effort confront ISIS. We maintain balanced relations based on mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs.
At the same time, we maintain relations with the United States as a strategic partner of Iraq. It helped Iraq and the people of Iraq to overthrow the dictatorial regime and stood with us in confronting terrorism in the days of Al-Qaeda and ISIS. We fought together and we won together against terrorism. We presented a model for defeating ISIS on the global level. Iraq and the United States presented this model for defeating ISIS, which threatened the whole region and the entire world, not just Iraq.
Our coordination on security continues and we maintain a strategic framework agreement with the United States. It is a road map for closer and more diverse relations in all areas, not just in security and military.
In my estimation, under the presidency of Mr. Trump, there is a real opportunity to build an ideal relationship between Iraq and the United States. President Trump's powerful decision-making and the vision he possesses in developing economic relations makes it possible for us to invest in this characteristic for a development renaissance in Iraq, strengthen ties between the two peoples and at the same time make Iraq a stable economic center and a hub for the region and the world as well as a force for stability and security, combining all interests so that we may continue this stability.
Newsweek: How would you describe your relationship with President Trump?
Sudani: It has thus far been a good relationship. There is communication on the level of calls, exchanging letters, and also communication between officials. We met in Sharm El-Sheikh. We believe that the peace and economic development that represents President Trump’s vision is identical to our vision as a government and as a country.
We aspire to security, sustainability and stability for the region because it is linked to the Iraq economy. And we regard the United States as an active partner in achieving this vision. As such, we have opened all the doors in a big way for American companies and there is cooperation and many projects between us in this framework.
Newsweek: Now, President Trump has “America First.” You have “Iraq First.” Can you describe the inspiration behind this policy and what it means for the Iraqi people at this important time? How are you prioritizing Iraq’s development and the interests of its people?
Sudani: This is a common denominator between us, to give priority to our peoples in our visions, in our goals and in our programs. This is something positive that we both stand for.
It is very important that the leader of any country rank the interests of their country and people first. This is what we believe we are doing for Iraq. We believe Iraqis deserve to be first and Iraq to be first in security, in stability, in development, in services, in better standards of living and in a future that promises opportunities for the youth. All of these are goals and priorities that we established as our national priorities for our dear Iraq.
Our people have made many sacrifices, and it is time now that we do a service to them and make them first in all of our orientations and decisions. And this is very important when there is a head of a friendly state who thinks with this vision. It’s natural then for interests to align so that it reflects in achieving our goals, for both of us, and what benefits our two friendly peoples of Iraq and America.
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Newsweek: There’s another phrase that President Trump uses, and that’s “Make America Great Again.” In some ways, it sounds like you’re trying to “Make Iraq Great Again.” What are some of the major challenges you see now in achieving this dream if you win this election, inspiring them to participate in elections, bringing Iraqis back from abroad and to establish Iraq as a hub for the region and perhaps even the rest of the world?
Sudani: Iraq is a great country dating back a long time, a nation of civilizations from 7,000 years ago, a nation of civilizations 7,000 years ago. There is the Hammurabi Code, the first law of humanity. Here is a civilization that is an achievement for humanity. And this exists in the Iraqi genes, generation after generation. And it is the reason for the steadfastness of this people and in the face of various challenges, and by virtue of the heritage it carries.
We have gone through difficult circumstances, political upheavals, conditions of instability. Yesterday, we had an official celebration attended by four presidents and it was a celebration of 100 years since the first Iraqi constitution in 1925, which means that Iraq has been a constitutional state since that time. And I was speaking last night about how, as we celebration the last 100 years, we must prepare for the next 100.
The feature of this second constitutional century is that is based for the first on an Iraqi constitution that was written by and voted on with a popular will. This pushes us to prepare the vision of Iraq 2050. And this vision represents a national, strategic and long-term project. Through it we establish the foundations for building a stable, prosperous Iraq that keeps up with all of the transformations that are happening in the world in the fields of the economy, knowledge and technology.
This vision relies on the younger generations, which represents the largest percentage, 60 percent, according to the latest census. This vision depends on what we possess in capabilities and in financial, natural and human resources. Our country is a rich country, but it has not invested its wealth properly**.** And this will enable us, according to our vision, to draw a map, a clear map for the future.
Through this vision, we will work to transform Iraq into a country that enjoys a diverse, knowledge-based economy. It does not rely only on oil revenues as a sole source. This is a wrong policy. It lasted throughout the past decades and disrupted many of the capabilities and positive characteristics of this country.
Today, Vision 2050 for Iraq focuses on six primary pillars.
The first is digital and smart governance, based on technology and artificial intelligence. And I began by forming the National Center for Digital Transformation, the National Center for Cyber Security and the Higher Committee for Artificial Intelligence. After three years we will convert these centers into a specialized ministry. We sent research missions abroad to conduct studies in the field of artificial intelligence. We sent 5,000 students to study in the largest American and British universities where there are important and qualitative specializations.
The second pillar is productive citizenship that relies on the energy of the people, who possess talent and innovation, and entrepreneurial tendencies.
The third pillar is to have fair and sustainable governance across all the governorates. We are a diverse country. There are many ethnic groups, Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, Shabaks, Christians, Sabians, Yazidis, Kaka’i. This diversity requires fair development without discrimination between citizens.
The fourth pillar is independence and sovereignty. There must be independence and sovereignty in political decisions, and this is what we have established in this stage of confronting challenges. The economic decision in Iraq was clear. When we found that the interest of Iraq lies in the path of development, we announced this project. And this project may be against the interest of other countries. Political decisions were clear as well, and we spoke about the security events.
Also, the fifth pillar is that we want to establish a flexible economic model that relies on innovation and production. The single-pattern economy does not meet the aspirations of the plan on which we are working.
And the sixth, important pillar is geopolitical positioning in a position that serves Iraq and strengthens its position at the regional and international levels. We do not want to be a party to any axis. We do not want to be an arena for conflicts, or lead any proxy wars. We want a policy based on becoming involved in the interests of everyone. Everyone wants to find in Iraq a station and a meeting point for dialogue. Yes, this is the role for Iraq. I think this is the ideal role for the country, which can be a fundamental base for stability in the region, and also an economic hub.
This is the vision we have outlined and has been agreed upon between the company KBR and the Ministry of Planning. And we have begun preparing for it in detail at the levels of programs, plans and policies, so that we can implement it in the next stage with broad participation from everyone.
And this is an important point. We do not want to impose a vision on the state, but rather we want that everyone that participates, official institutions, universities, the private sector, the youth. The youth must be present in drafting the national plan.
Newsweek: And I want to ask about you, personally, how you view your role in Iraq and a history that, as you mentioned, goes back 7,000 years. There are no term limits for the prime minister. Do you view yourself as having a long-term role in guiding Iraq toward this vision?
Sudani: There is nothing personal for me, as much as I want Iraq to be a strong, stable and active country that grants a free and honorable life and social justice its people and their children. I believe in the political system with a peaceful transfer of power.
As long as I am in this position, I will work to achieve this vision and these goals. We view the leadership position not as an honorary position as much as is it a position to provide service and bear responsibility with honesty and loyalty before our people. The trust that the citizen places in the elections is a precious trust in these conditions.
Therefore, you must possess a high degree of honest and be keen to implement what you pledge. My work has always been accompanied by the fact that your words must be accompanied by actions. This is the mechanism of trust. This is the source of our strength. When we build the country on these foundations, then I am reassured for my children and grandchildren.
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Newsweek: One of the most stunning developments for Iraq has been the victory against ISIS and the start of a new era moving away from war and towards recovery and development. How do you plan to portray to the rest of the world that Iraq is a part of the future in terms of investments, in terms of regional connectivity and in terms of tourism as well?
Sudani: Certainly, some still carry a negative impression associated with the past era in which we were confronting terrorism. Yet the reality is completely different.
Mosul is where Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi once announced the launch of the caliphate. Today, tourists from Europe and Russia come to visit this governorate and its antiquities, as well as to the south of Iraq. For the first time in decades, Iraq is witnessing unprecedented stability and security. The former British ambassador described this as the first time stability had been achieved since the 1960s.
This is the impression of those who are in Iraq. You will see how it is tangible and clear. Now, in Baghdad, you see foreign tourists all over the place. Estimates from the Council of Tourism indicate a 40 percent rise in tourism revenues.
Tourism always spreads in a country that is safe. In important capitals in Europe, you cannot carry a phone, or a valuable bag. You can now in Iraq, and stay out until the early morning in Baghdad.
Across the cities of Iraq there is vitality, development and work. This is reflected in the citizens with hope and optimism, as we discussed in the beginning, in their participation in elections. All of this is a continuous picture.
But we must reflect this to the world. This is very important, of course, at the fundamental level. For the next phase, we are contracting specialized companies for the promotion and marketing of tourism.
We have a civilization that extends thousands of years. This is not just for us, this is for all of humanity. The world must witness it, study it, read and write books about it. So, our mission is to provide the environment to do so.
And how do we present this? This is what we are working on. We have historical cities, we have holy religious cities for Muslims all over the world. We also have beautiful nature in the Kurdistan region, in the marshes, in the desert. Many citizens from the Gulf come to the southwestern desert to fish and see the natural beauty.
This is an important feature that needs to be invested in professionally, so that it can be a supportive factor in boosting the Iraqi economy, and this is what we plan to work on and to guide this, I plan to create a special ministry for tourism.
Newsweek: Are there forces that you see that want to drag Iraq back from this vision, and how will you work with political rivals in order to ensure that, in achieving this progress, you also maintain stability and cohesiveness of people of all backgrounds?
Sudani: There have been previous experiences of failure in performance, and corruption and mismanagement spread as a result of it. Certainly, these people are annoyed by what we have achieved and how it is reflected on the friendly relationship between the prime minister and the citizens. This is a clear factor that everyone is talking about.
Also, some of them have started to lose their balance. They attack us day and night. They exploit the virtues of freedom of expression, and they exploit it in a way that violates the ethics of the journalistic profession and violates freedoms.
We are known for our tendency not to engage in political disputes and arguments. And the response from us is always on the ground with achievements, because we believe that the more we achieve, the more we annoy the others.
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