In his first public statement since his appointment, Mark Savaya, the new US special envoy to Iraq, committed Washington to bolstering Iraq's sovereignty and unifying its security forces, while issuing a clear warning against "malign" external interference, a pointed reference to Iran.

The statement, released on Thursday, outlines the priorities for Savaya's tenure, emphasizing a long-term partnership between the United States and the "pivotal" Middle Eastern nation.

Savaya praised the political and economic progress Iraq has made in recent years, stating the country has begun to "reemerge as a sovereign state" after years of instability.

“Over the past three years, Iraq’s leadership has taken important steps to guide the country in the right direction,” he said, highlighting efforts to "reduce external influences, bring all weapons under the control of the legitimate government, and open its markets to international companies."

However, the envoy cautioned that this process remains incomplete, and Iraq requires continued support to stay on its path toward stability. He firmly stated that armed groups operating outside state authority have no place in Iraq.

“Iraq’s security and sovereignty depend on unified security forces under the command of a single government and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces,” Savaya emphasized, calling for forces "united under one flag that represents all Iraqis."

In a significant portion of his remarks, Savaya directly addressed the issue of foreign meddling, singling out Iran and its proxies as a continuing threat to Iraq's independence.

“The interests of the Iraqi people and of the wider region depend on a fully sovereign Iraq, free from malign external interference, including from Iran and its proxies,” he stated.

Savaya also underscored the critical importance of cooperation between the federal government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government in Erbil, calling unity "essential to ensuring lasting security, economic growth, and national cohesion."

Concluding his statement, Savaya reaffirmed the strategic importance of the US-Iraq relationship. “Iraq will continue to stand as one of America’s strongest and most valued partners, and I am committed to further strengthening this relationship as I assume this honorable role as envoy,” he said.

Mark Savaya, a Detroit-area entrepreneur and a Chaldean of Iraqi descent, was appointed to the role by former President Donald Trump on October 20. The announcement was made on Trump's Truth Social platform, where he praised Savaya for his "deep understanding of the Iraq-US relationship" and his regional connections.