Iraqi Sunni tribal leader Ali Hatem Al-Suleiman responds to PM Al-Sudani's remarks that Iraq will not recognize Israel: It is just electioneering – Israel isn't waiting for our recognition; Iraqi politicians will be the first to recognize it
Iraqi Sunni tribal leader Ali Hatem Al-Suleiman said in a June 2, 2025 appearance on Sky News Arabiya (UAE) that Israel is not waiting for Iraq to recognize it, calling it a "done deal" and stating that there is nothing Iraq can do about it. He dismissed statements such as those made by Prime Minister Al-Sudani, according to which Iraq has no intention of recognizing Israel, as mere election slogans, and he added: "You'll see that the first people to recognize Israel will be Iraqi politicians."
Interviewer: "In his recent interview with our channel, [Iraqi PM] Al-Sudani denied that Iraq has any intention to recognize Israel or to sign a peace treaty. What is your position about this?"
Ali Hatem Al-Suleiman: "You think that Israel is just waiting for Iraq to recognize it? This is nonsense.