The US has warned Iraq's prime minister of consequences if he doesn't ensure the release of kidnapped Russian-Israeli academic Elizabeth Tsurkov. The Trump administration threatened 'political and economic consequences' if the issue is not resolved. Iraqi authorities are actively searching for Tsurkov, who is believed to have been held by Islamist terrorists since March 2023. The US is now the negotiator for Tsurkov's release, and Iraq sees the situation as embarrassing due to the lack of response from any armed group.