MPs warn of Iranian naval movements in the Gulf

Knowledgeable parliamentary sources warned of movements by regional powers to “fill the security vacuum in Iraqi territorial water” if the parliament failed to pass a security deal with the UK. Al-Sabah reports that the unnamed MPs warned that Iranian warships were recently spotted lurking near Iraqi territorial water. Meanwhile the defense and security committee in the parliament pointed out that British naval presence is urgently needed to protect Iraqi ports and oil export platforms on the Gulf. An earlier session to vote on the security deal was disrupted when Sadrist MPs walked out of the session, which cause the parliament to delay the vote due to lack of quorum.