US troops are in Iraq based on the agreement between the two countries with a specific mission of combating “terrorism” and actions outside the agreement is “unacceptable”, Salih said speaking at a forum in Baghdad.
Iraq President Barham Salih responding to Trump’s comment on keeping an eye on Iran said that US President Donald Trump did not ask Iraq’s permission for US troops base in there to “watch Iran”.
“Don’t overburden Iraq with your own issues,” Salih said. “The US is a major power … but do not pursue your own policy priorities, we live here.”
“It is of fundamental interest for Iraq to have good relations with Iran” and other neighboring countries, he added.
Trump, in his interview with CBS said one of the reasons I want to keep it is because I want to be looking a little bit at Iran because Iran is a real problem.
Some of the US troops pulling out of Syria will relocate to American bases in Iraq, he said.
The US military base in Iraq was “perfectly situated” to keep watch over not just Iran, but also other parts of the Middle East, he said, adding: “We’re going to keep watching and we’re going to keep seeing and if there’s trouble, if somebody is looking to do nuclear weapons or other things, we’re going to know it before they do.”
