Iran Military Drill. In this photo provided Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, by the Iranian Army, tanks move forward during a drill in southeastern Iran. Iranian Army/AP
The leader of a powerful Iraqi militia, backed by Iran, has warned against the outbreak of any war between the U.S. and Iran after President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iran as it seeks to stop it getting nuclear weapons.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. State Department for comment.
Why It Matters
The remarks come amid growing tensions between Tehran and Washington over Iran's nuclear program and broader geopolitical rivalries. Iran has been gathering support from Russia and China and supporting militant groups hostile to the U.S. and its ally Israel. Iran has denied that its nuclear progam is aimed at anything but civilian uses.
The Iraqi Badr Organization has been part of a coalition previously targeted by U.S. airstrikes due to its involvement in attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq.
What To Know
"Any war against Iran will not be a walk in the park, but will ignite the entire region." Hadi al-Amiri, who leads the Badr Organization," said on Tuesday.
Secretary-General of the Iraqi Badr Organization, Hadi al-Amiri, said that "any war that might break out between Iran and the US would not be limited to the two parties to the conflict, but would drag the entire region into a fire," according to the Iraqi News Agency.
The U.S. and Iran have exchanged threats of military escalation in recent weeks, following a standoff on negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, a key concern to U.S. interests.
Trump has also expressed frustration with Iran's sponsorship of proxy groups in the Middle East, including the Yemeni Houthis, against which he launched a military operation in March, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Palestinian faction Hamas, which is at war with Israel.
While intensifying sanctions on Iran, the Trump administration also targeted Iraq, ending a waiver for Iranian electricity purchases and urging Baghdad to "eliminate its dependence on Iranian sources of energy as soon as possible," according to U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
On Tuesday, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed his commitment to implementing all Tehran-Baghdad agreements in a call with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Iranian Press TV reported.
Several Iran-backed Iraqi militias, including Kata'ib Hezbollah and Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, have issued threats against U.S. interests in Iraq and the Middle East, demanding the removal of U.S. forces from the country.
Al-Amiri has expanded his influence in Iraq, moving from leading Shiite militias against U.S. forces to becoming a key political figure.
What People Are Saying
Secretary-General of the Iraqi Badr Organization Hadi al-Amiri: "Yemen's courageous stance in support of Palestine has placed it in the face of the US and British aggression. Any war against Iran will not be a walk in the park, but will ignite the entire region."
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, quoted by Press TV: "Iran is determined to implement all its agreements with Iraq so that by further strengthening the brotherly relations between the two countries, we can neutralize enemies' plots aimed at sowing discord in the region."
The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) on X: "Let's remember some facts: 1) Iran is not actively pursuing a nuclear weapon 2) The notion of pre-authorizing war has a terrible track record (see 2002, Iraq) 3) the American people don't want another disastrous war of choice - we must give diplomacy a chance to succeed"
What Happens Next
As U.S.-Iran tensions continue to escalate, other regional actors and various militant groups could be drawn into the conflict, further destabilizing the Middle East and potentially igniting a broader regional war.
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This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 9:03 AM.