Iraqi president, Barham Salih commented on remarks made by US President Donald Trump concerning the American military presence in Iraq in a bid to monitor Iran.
Barham Salih said on Monday that Trump did not ask Iraq’s permission for US troops stationed there to “monitor 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.”
US troops in Iraq are there as part of an agreement between the two countries with a specific mission of combating terrorism, Salih noted.
“It is of fundamental interest for Iraq to have good relations with Iran” and other neighboring countries, Salih said.
Earlier, Trump stated that he plans to keep US troops in Iraq because of its vantage point over neighboring Iran.
According to Trump, Iraq is “perfectly situated for looking at all over different parts of the troubled Middle East rather than pulling up.”
Source: Agencies
