Pompeo praises ‘bold agenda’ as new Iraqi prime minister al-Kadhimi takes charge

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is praising new Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi for offering a “bold agenda” for his nation after the former intelligence chief ended months of instability in Baghdad by forming a new government. 

Pompeo called al-Kadhimi late Wednesday to congratulate him on the Parliament’s acceptance of his Cabinet and to prepare for a strategic dialogue between the two countries in June.

Al-Kadhimi, a Western-friendly former journalist and intelligence chief, will face significant financial challenges as low oil prices cut deeply into government revenues and will likely require him to take actions to reduce expenses.

Pompeo offered some initial relief in the form of a sanctions waiver allowing Iraq to buy electricity from neighboring Iran for four months.

“In support of the new government the United States will move forward with a 120-day electricity waiver as a display of our desire to help provide the right conditions for success,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortegas said after the call. 

Pompeo added his own personal touch, with a tweet praising al-Khadimi’s vision for Iraq, which includes reforms to end corruption and sectarian strife and to bolster a long-sagging economy.

”Great to speak today with new Iraqi PrimeMinister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Now comes the urgent, hard work of implementing the reforms demanded by the Iraqi people. I pledged to help him deliver on his bold agenda for the sake of the Iraqi people,” Pompeo wrote.

Iraq has been essentially leadership for five months since its last prime minister resigned in November.

Al-Kadhimi said that his government will offer solutions to the turmoil the country faces.

“This government came as a response to the social, economic and political crises our country is facing,” al-Kadhimi told lawmakers. “It is a government that will provide solutions, not add to the crises.”