Israel-Iraq normalization talks: Baghdad denies, Israel remains tight-lipped

Iraq on Monday denied reports that it is in talks with Israel to normalize relations, after an Israeli official said the two countries were discussing the issue.

"The Iraqi government categorically denies the news and rumors that have been circulated in the media regarding the normalization of relations with the Zionist entity," the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry stressed that Iraq's position on the issue of Palestine is "firm and principled," and that it supports the Palestinian people's right to establish their own state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Times of Israel that the talks between Israel and Iraq were "at an early stage."

The official said that the talks were being held through a third party, and that they were focused on "confidence-building measures" and "economic cooperation."

The official did not provide any details about the third party involved in the talks, but said that it was a "country that has good relations with both Israel and Iraq."

The Israeli official also said that the talks were "very sensitive," and that they could be easily derailed by "any public statements or leaks."

The Iraqi government's denial of the talks comes as no surprise, as Iraq has long been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause.

Iraq was one of the first Arab countries to recognize the State of Palestine, and it has consistently voted in favor of Palestinian resolutions at the United Nations.

However, Iraq has also been facing increasing pressure from its neighbors to improve its relations with Israel.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two of Iraq's most important allies, have both normalized relations with Israel in recent years.

It is possible that Iraq is feeling pressure from its neighbors to follow suit, but it is also possible that the Iraqi government is simply trying to avoid angering its own people.

The vast majority of Iraqis are opposed to normalization with Israel, and any move by the government to normalize relations would likely be met with widespread protests.