Officially, Trump announces the appointment of Tom Barrack as special envoy to Iraq.
Officially, Trump announces the appointment of Tom Barrack as special envoy to Iraq.
2026-05-31
Shafaq News – Washington
On Sunday, US President Donald Trump announced the appointment of Washington’s ambassador to Ankara, Tom Barrack, as a special presidential envoy to Iraq and Syria.
Trump said in a post on Truth Social that Tom Barrack will continue in his role as ambassador to Turkey and will perform his new duties with the full support of the State Department.
He added that this comes within the framework of strengthening strategic cooperation with the governments of Syria and Iraq, and the continued growth of the relationship with them, expressing his deep appreciation for the work done by Tom Barrack, and his continued readiness to serve the United States.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on Saturday that Barak will continue to play a leading role in the Syria and Iraq files within President Donald Trump’s administration, despite the end of his term as special envoy to Syria.
Barak, the US ambassador to Turkey, took over the role of special envoy to Syria in May 2025, in parallel with the Trump administration’s moves to reformulate its approach to the Syrian issue and lift sanctions on Damascus, in light of Turkey’s growing role in the Syrian issue.
Rubio’s statements give an official dimension to the broader role that Barak has begun to play practically in Iraq as well, after he emerged during the past period at the forefront of American communications with Baghdad, following the failure of Mark Savaya to officially assume the position of Special Envoy to Iraq.
shafaq.com
