U.S. Envoy Tom Barrack Says America Was a ‘Bad Guest’ in Iraq, Urges Baghdad to Become a Bridge to Iran

U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack said Washington had behaved like a “bad guest” in Iraq and should abandon attempts to control the country, arguing that Baghdad could help open a diplomatic channel to Iran as the Middle East rethinks its security arrangements. ⠀ Speaking at the Chatham House Iraq Initiative conference in London on Wednesday, Barrack urged the United States to examine its mistakes. “We were bad guests. We thought we were the hosts,” he said. “Let Iraq be Iraq. It sounds simple. We’ve never abided by it.” ⠀ He described a different American role: “No longer do we want to control, no longer do we want to own. We want to tend, we want to help.” Washington, he added, could no longer act as the region’s sole security guarantor as countries built new partnerships. ⠀ Barrack called the Strait of Hormuz “an element of hostage-taking,” saying the disruption had exposed the need for alternatives. Iraq, Türkiye and Syria were central to developing new energy and transport routes, he argued, as countries sought an “insurance policy” against reliance on the strait. ⠀ He also encouraged Iraq to maintain ties with Tehran rather than become its adversary. “You can be the magic key that opens the door,” he said, suggesting Baghdad could pursue dialogue with Iran that Washington itself was unable to conduct. ⠀ Turning briefly to U.S. politics, Barrack welcomed the Democrats’ gains in the November midterm elections. A “blue wave” under a Republican president was “not a bad thing,” he said. “That’s a good thing,” calling the result a message from American voters. ⠀ The comments come as Iraq navigates pressure from Washington and Tehran while pursuing regional trade links and trying to reduce the risks of the Iran war to its economy and security.