Patriotism means placing Iraq above vested interests, the state above those who wield power, and citizenship above sectarian and factional loyalties. It means upholding the law as our ultimate reference, keeping sovereignty indivisible and national decision-making independent, and treating the bearing of arms as a solemn trust whose legitimacy derives solely from the Constitution and the institutions of the state. The state embodies no one’s supremacy; it safeguards everyone. It outlasts those in power and stands above division. Our responsibility is to safeguard Iraq’s present and build a future worthy of its heritage and history—a shared national endeavour that takes precedence over every other affiliation, and a state to which no competing allegiance takes priority.

I express my full solidarity with His Majesty King Abdullah II @KingAbdullahII and the leadership, government and people of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan following the terrorist attack targeting a church in Karak. Jordan’s security is inseparable from Iraq’s. We firmly believe that the unity of the Jordanian people and their spirit of coexistence are stronger than any attempt to sow discord. We stand with Jordan in ensuring that those responsible for this heinous crime are brought to justice. There can be no justification for terrorism, and no compromise when it comes to human life and the right to safety. My deepest condolences go to the families who have lost their loved ones. May Almighty God envelop those who lost their lives in His boundless mercy, grant the injured a swift recovery, and protect Jordan and its people from all harm.

When our government designated 3 October as Iraq’s National Day, commemorating Iraq’s admission to the League of Nations in 1932, we intended it to be more than a date on the national calendar. We envisioned a day that would bring Iraqis together in love for their country and pride in a national identity that embraces them all. As we celebrate #IraqiNationalDay, we honour Iraq through more than words. We do so by renewing our commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty and independent decision-making, strengthening its economy, and upholding the dignity of its citizens, so that we may leave our children a state whose strength rests on the trust and unity of its people, where no one is above the law and arms are held exclusively by its legitimate institutions. Iraq endures. Governments change and responsibilities shift, but the task of building a stronger Iraq remains a trust we all share. May each year bring Iraq and its people security, well-being and dignity. #IraqFirst

Today, we took part in the celebration of #SovereigntyDay. As we thank the federal government led by Mr. @AliFalihAlzaidy for its efforts to safeguard the independence of national decision-making, restrict arms exclusively to the state, and consolidate the authority of its constitutional institutions, we reaffirm that Iraq’s sovereignty and the dignity of its people are one single responsibility: national independence cannot truly stand without protecting the life, freedom, and rights of the citizen. What has been achieved through the sacrifices of the Iraqi people, and the efforts of our armed forces, security, and intelligence services in confronting terrorism, is a trust passed from one government to the next, which they have a duty to preserve and build upon. We evoke this meaning on the anniversary of October 1st, and in the aspirations of Iraq’s youth who took to the streets carrying its flag, demanding a homeland that preserves their dignity and opens doors to the future. We honor with reverence the martyrs of the protests, reaffirming that the state we aspire to draws its strength from the trust of its citizens, guaranteeing them justice in which influence grants no one immunity, and safeguarding their right to dissent and participate in determining their future. Our responsibility is to translate this commitment into action: so that Iraq is sovereign over its land, decisions of war and peace remain solely in the hands of its constitutional institutions, and every Iraqi can rest assured that their state protects them, their law does them justice, and their voice is capable of bringing about change. #IraqFirst

We highly commend the considerable efforts undertaken by the Presidency of the Kurdistan Region, the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, and all political and military leaders who contributed to unifying the Peshmerga forces under the Ministry’s authority. We salute the resolve that made this important national achievement possible and regard it as a courageous step towards building a unified, professional military institution. We look forward to seeing this process completed through practical measures that ensure unity of command and decision-making and bring an end to any military affiliation outside official institutions. The timing of this step, coinciding with the #InternationalDayOfPeace, carries particular significance. Peace cannot be safeguarded by intentions and declarations alone; it requires a strong state that maintains a monopoly over the legitimate use of force, unified constitutional institutions, and a single security and military decision-making authority. We hope this step will serve as an encouraging message and an impetus for those bearing arms outside the framework of the state in Baghdad and throughout Iraq to embark on a national path founded on bringing all weapons under the control of legally authorized institutions, and placing security and military decision-making under the authority of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. This is the path towards restoring sovereignty, consolidating stability, opening new horizons for peace and development, and presenting a new image of Iraq to its people and the world: a state governed by institutions, protected by law, and embracing all its citizens. #Iraq_First

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) brought a divine message that restored to noble character its brilliance and sublime meaning, linking it to the essence of faith and humanity's responsibility toward one another. It brought about deep-rooted social reform, establishing the foundations of a cohesive society and a nation anchored in virtue and constructive reform. Above all else, the building of the human being was at the heart of this timeless message: a person who carries the concerns of their fellow human beings, safeguards their dignity, and preserves their rights without distinction or discrimination. On the anniversary of his noble birth, we recall a prophetic legacy rich in humanitarian values and profound meaning as we move forward with the project of reclaiming the state, rebuilding it, and restoring its prestige and presence, inspired by the values instilled by the message of Muhammad: compassion, justice, solidarity, love of homeland, and service to humanity. Warmest wishes to the Arab and Islamic nations on this blessed occasion. May we, as Iraqis, continue to draw from this great legacy the resolve to build an Iraq worthy of its ancient history and genuine people, so that it remains, always and forever, #IraqFirst.

We welcome the responsible position adopted by the State Administration Coalition regarding the exclusive control of arms by the state, the prevention of Iraqi territory from being used to launch attacks against neighbouring countries, and the rejection of any attempt to draw Iraq into conflicts that neither serve the interests of its people nor accord with its standing, regional role, or relations with its neighbours. We have repeatedly affirmed that protecting Iraq begins with restoring sovereign national decision-making, ending the duality of arms and authority, preventing any party from operating outside the institutions of the state, and ensuring that Iraqi territory is never used as a platform from which to threaten the security of others. We have also warned that the continuation of this reality not only places Iraq’s sovereignty at risk, but also threatens the interests of its people, provides pretexts for interference in its internal affairs, and undermines efforts to build balanced relations with Arab states and neighbouring countries. Translating this national position into concrete measures, within the announced timelines and with broad political backing, represents an essential step towards restoring the authority and standing of the state, safeguarding Iraq’s sovereignty and the security of its citizens, and firmly establishing the principle that decisions of war and peace, the use of force, the protection of borders, and the conduct of foreign relations are the exclusive responsibility of the state and its constitutional institutions. Once again, we reaffirm our support for the Federal Government, the judiciary, and our security and armed forces in fulfilling this national imperative. There can be no stability while weapons remain outside the bounds of legitimate authority, no sovereignty amid competing centres of decision-making, and no genuinely independent national decision unless the state alone possesses lawful authority and the legitimate use of force.

It is no longer possible to tolerate the actions of non-state actors, whose conduct can only be described as a deliberate assault on the interests of Iraq and the Iraqi people. At a time when the Federal Government, led by Mr. Ali Al-Zaidi, is working to rebuild Iraq’s foreign relations—particularly with its Gulf and Arab partners—unrestrained factions continue to undermine our highest national interests and hold Iraq’s security and international relations hostage to external agendas, reducing themselves to instruments activated at moments of conflict, negotiation, and political bargaining. The repeated targeting of neighboring and regional countries—most recently the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today, and previously the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan—does not serve Iraq. On the contrary, it pushes our country toward greater regional isolation, undermines efforts to strengthen the state and restore Iraq’s role and standing, and damages the environment we need to foster economic integration, stability, and collective security. Resolving the issue of weapons outside state control and confronting non-state actors has become a sovereign imperative that can no longer be postponed. Iraq must not be made to pay the price for the conflicts of others, nor should the interests of its people be held hostage to foreign agendas or impulses that may appear ideological on the surface but are, in reality, driven by interests and influence. At this critical juncture in the history of Iraq and the region, standing with the state and its institutions, and supporting the government in safeguarding Iraq’s sovereignty, interests, and relations, is a national, moral, and historic responsibility. So that #Iraq_First always remains our guiding principle.