The United States has returned one of its prominent diplomats specializing in Iraqi and Middle Eastern affairs to Baghdad, announcing on Wednesday the return of Ambassador Stephen H. Fagan to Iraq to take on the role of Chargé d'Affaires at the U.S. Mission in Baghdad, succeeding Joshua Harris, who completed his duties after nearly a year in the position.
Fagan's return to the Iraqi capital does not mark the beginning of his journey with Iraq; rather, it comes after years of work within U.S. diplomatic institutions and in advanced roles related to the Iraqi file and the region, including the position of Consul General in Erbil, Deputy Chief of Mission in Baghdad, as well as previously serving as Chargé d'Affaires at the same embassy.
The U.S. embassy in Baghdad stated that Fagan returns to Iraq after serving as the U.S. Ambassador to Yemen, and prior to that the position of Chargé d'Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission in Baghdad, the Consul General in Erbil, emphasizing that his extensive regional experience will contribute to strengthening relations between the United States and Iraq and moving towards a future that benefits both the American and Iraqi peoples.
More than a quarter-century in diplomacy
Stephen Fagan is a professional American diplomat and a member of the Senior Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State at the rank of Minister-Counselor, having joined the diplomatic service in 1997.
His professional profile indicates that he has spent many years working on complicated political, security, and diplomatic issues, with experience in various U.S. missions around the world, including Brussels, Islamabad, Astana, Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Minsk, Tbilisi, and Cairo, in addition to his work at the State Department in Washington.
Fagan graduated from Williams College with a bachelor's degree and then received a master's degree from the University of Michigan; he also studied at Tbilisi State University in Georgia, according to his published biography.
His career trajectory reflects a major focus on the Middle East and South and Central Asia, regions considered among the most complex foreign policy issues for the U.S., particularly concerning Iran, Iraq, Yemen, and regional security.
Iraq.. a prominent station in his career
Iraq is one of the most important stations in Fagan's diplomatic journey.
He worked at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad as the Director of the Office of Drug Control and International Law Enforcement, a file that intersects with issues of security, Iraqi institutions, and combating organized crime.
He later served as Consul General at the U.S. Consulate in Erbil from 2018 to 2020, before moving to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad as Deputy Chief of Mission from 2020 to 2021.
Given these positions, Fagan is not entering Iraq for the first time through the embassy but is returning to a country where he has previously worked at a high diplomatic level, dealing with political, security, and economic files related to Iraq and its regional relations during his prior years there.
Fagan had briefly held the position of Chargé d'Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad before being succeeded by Joshua Harris in September 2025, indicating that his current return represents a new transition for a diplomat who has previously understood the intricacies of the U.S. mission and the Iraqi political environment closely.
From Erbil to Baghdad
Another notable phase of Fagan's Iraqi experience includes his work as the U.S. Consul General in Erbil.
During his time in the Kurdistan region, he dealt with issues of U.S.-Kurdish relations, in addition to the political, security, and economic matters linking the region to Washington.
His experience in Erbil and Baghdad provided him with direct knowledge of the nature of the relationship between the federal government and the Kurdistan region, which is one of the files that continues to receive ongoing U.S. attention.
In August 2025, while serving as Chargé d'Affaires in Baghdad, Fagan met with the President of the Kurdistan region, Nechirvan Barzani, focusing discussions at that time on the situation in Iraq and the Kurdistan region, relations between Erbil and Baghdad, as well as issues of salaries and financial rights of the region and U.S. relations with Iraq and Kurdistan.
The Iran file.. one of his most significant experiences
Alongside Iraq, Fagan possesses direct experience in one of the most sensitive issues for U.S. policy in the Middle East, the Iranian file.
He served as Director of the Iran Office at the U.S. State Department from 2015 to 2018, after previously being the Director of the Regional Office in the South and Central Asia Bureau from 2013 to 2015.
This station gains particular importance when considering the nature of U.S. policy in Iraq, given the link between the Iraqi scene and regional balances, foremost being the relationship with Iran.
His experience in the Iranian file came before his transition to Iraq as Consul General in Erbil and then Deputy Chief of Mission in Baghdad, allowing him to work in roles that combine knowledge of the Iranian file with direct knowledge of the Iraqi reality.
This is why some reports describe him as one of the American diplomats possessing extensive knowledge of Iraq and the region, particularly Iran.
From Pakistan to the Middle East
Fagan's experience did not stop at Iraq and Iran; he began his career at the State Department with a set of tasks related to South Asia.
He served as a Pakistan Desk Officer at the U.S. State Department and was Deputy Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.
He also worked as a Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, a position that allows the diplomat direct insight into the decision-making process in U.S. foreign policy.
He later moved among several countries and regions, including Kazakhstan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Georgia, and Egypt, contributing to a broad experience in political, security, and diplomatic files.
Ambassador to Yemen
In 2022, Fagan transitioned to another highly sensitive diplomatic post when he became the U.S. Ambassador to Yemen.
He carried out his duties as ambassador amid the Yemeni war and its complexities, with the U.S. mission continuing to operate outside Yemen due to security concerns and the Houthis’ control over the capital, Sanaa.
In June 2024, Fagan emerged in a public stance concerning the detention of Yemeni employees working with international organizations and others supported by the United States, calling on the Houthis to release the detainees and criticizing the arrests.
This experience in Yemen demonstrates that his career has not only been tied to traditional diplomatic work but also involved dealing with complex conflict environments and intertwined security and political files.
The Gaza phase.. a civilian role in the coordination center
Fagan's mission did not stop at Yemen; in 2025, he engaged in one of the most sensitive files in U.S. policy in the Middle East.
In October 2025, the U.S. State Department appointed him as the Civilian Leader of the Civil-Military Coordination Center established in southern Israel to assist in the implementation of the Gaza peace plan and coordinate aid and ceasefire-related efforts.
The center was associated with the U.S. Central Command and included military and diplomatic personnel along with representatives from countries and international organizations to coordinate efforts related to aid and stability in Gaza.
Fagan undertook the civilian leadership of the center alongside the military leadership, in a mission requiring coordination among multiple parties, including the United States, Israeli entities, and international organizations and participating countries.
According to the U.S. Central Command, the center helped facilitate the entry of over 24,000 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid and commercial goods into Gaza over five weeks, as well as assisted in the evacuation of more than 1,500 civilians from Gaza holding dual nationalities or in need of medical care.
This mission reveals the trust that U.S. institutions place in Fagan on issues requiring work among political, diplomatic, and military branches.
What does his return to Baghdad mean?
Fagan's return to Baghdad comes at a different stage than when he left Iraq in 2025.
The Iraqi-American relations have witnessed a gradual transition in recent years, shifting from focusing on military operations and the international coalition against ISIS to building a broader relationship encompassing security, economic, commercial, and investment cooperation.
The former Chargé d'Affaires, Joshua Harris, emphasized in his farewell message the continued support of the United States for Iraqi sovereignty, ongoing cooperation in combating terrorism, enhancing security, as well as developing economic and commercial relations and supporting partnerships with the private sector.
From this perspective, the choice of a diplomat who has previously worked in Baghdad and Erbil, served as Director of the Iran Office, and Ambassador to Yemen can provide Washington with a figure who possesses prior knowledge of numerous files affecting Iraq.
Economy and investment on top of the files
Fagan's new task does not seem limited to political and security files.
In the period leading up to his return to Baghdad, Fagan held meetings with representatives of the U.S. business community and the U.S.-Iraqi Business Council, amidst an increasing focus on economic and investment relations between the two countries.
This aligns with the announced U.S. trend towards expanding relations with Iraq beyond the security framework and enhancing the presence of American companies in the sectors of energy, infrastructure, trade, and investment.
Thus, one of Fagan's most prominent tasks will be addressing a phase in which Washington is attempting to establish a long-term relationship with Baghdad based on economic and commercial cooperation alongside security cooperation.
A figure who knows Iraq and the region
Fagan's importance to Washington lies in that he combines three levels of experience.
The first is direct Iraqi experience, gained through his work at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and its consulate in Erbil.
The second is regional experience, particularly as Director of the Iran Office and Ambassador to Yemen.
The third level is expertise in managing multilateral and crisis files, which emerged in his various diplomatic roles and in his civilian role within the Civil-Military Coordination Center related to Gaza.
He has also received several awards from the U.S. State Department during his career, including performance and service recognition awards, in addition to two Presidential Rank Awards for Excellence, according to his published biographies.
A diplomat who speaks Arabic, Kurdish, and Russian
One notable aspect of Fagan's profile is his knowledge of several languages, as his biographies indicate his proficiency in Arabic, Kurdish, and Russian, skills that are particularly significant for a diplomat who has worked in Iraq and the region.
His knowledge of Arabic and Kurdish provides him with an additional ability for direct communication with Iraqi and Kurdish parties, and an understanding of local contexts without complete reliance on translation or official channels.
A return with political implications
With the announcement of the U.S. embassy regarding his return to Baghdad, Fagan returns this time as Chargé d'Affaires, amidst the continued vacancy of the U.S. ambassador position in Iraq.
As head of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Baghdad, Fagan will be the main face of Washington in dealing with the Iraqi government, political forces, and official institutions until an accredited U.S. ambassador is present.
It is noteworthy that he has previously held the same position, and therefore his return does not mean the arrival of a new diplomatic figure in the Iraqi scene, but rather the return of a responsible individual who has previously dealt with the Baghdad and Erbil environments and the files of Iraq and the region.
Looking at his career, Fagan enters his new mission with nearly three decades of experience, spread across Iraq, Iran, Yemen, South Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, an experience that makes his return to Baghdad particularly significant at a stage where Iraqi-American relations are redefining their priorities, moving from military and security cooperation to a broader partnership encompassing economy, investment, energy, and trade, alongside the continued influence of regional and security files on the nature of the relationship between Baghdad and Washington.
Stephen Fagan is not a new American diplomat to Iraq; he is one of the diplomats who have accumulated direct experience in Baghdad and Erbil, and who have taken on the files of Iran, Yemen, and regional security.
His return to Baghdad, nearly a year after his departure, positions someone at the head of the U.S. mission who knows the details of the Iraqi scene and its balances, while also possessing extensive experience in regional files that intersect directly with Iraq.