WASHINGTON -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke by phone with Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi, emphasizing “our shared desire for a strong, free, and sovereign Iraq,” the State Department said.
Spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said on June 14 that Pompeo thanked the prime minister for Iraq’s continued efforts to counter threats to Iraq’s sovereignty from Iran-backed militias.
Pompeo reiterated the U.S. commitment to upholding freedom of navigation in the region in the wake of attacks on oil tankers in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman that Washington has blamed on Iran. Tehran has denied involvement.
The U.S. spokeswoman said Pompeo shared “our assessment that Iran was responsible for attacking two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman.”
She said Pompeo thanked Mahdi for his commitment to protect U.S. personnel in Iraq and said Washington will continue to help Iraq build up its security forces.
Iraq has strong ties to both the United States and neighboring Iran. Washington provides military, political, and financial aid, while Tehran has great influence with Iraq’s Shi’ite Muslim population and aids militia groups operating in Iraq.
Mahdi last month met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Baghdad to discuss the "dangers of a war" in the region amid soaring tensions between the United States and Iran.
Mahdi on May 21 said Iraq is "playing a role to calm the situation, but it is not a mediation."
Mahdi added at the time that Iranian and U.S. officials had informed Baghdad that they have "no desire in fighting a war."
Relations between Tehran and Washington have plummeted since the United States a year ago pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal that curbed Iran's nuclear program in exchange for relief from crippling economic sanctions.
Since then, Washington has stepped up its rhetoric and reimposed sanctions.
Washington has ordered a beefing up of U.S. military assets in the Middle East and Persian Gulf, citing "imminent threats" from Iran, and ordered the evacuation of personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Iraq.
With reporting by AP and AFP
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.
Editors' Picks
Top Trending
1
Armenian Border Residents Protest As Yerevan, Baku Agree On Delimitation
2Navalnaya Warns Of Putin's Willingness To Strike In Europe
3Iranian Commander Announces New Morality Enforcement Body
4Zelenskiy Says U.S. Breakthrough On Military Aid Gives Ukraine A 'Chance For Victory'
5Apparent Israeli Air Attack Strikes Near Iranian City Of Isfahan
6Iran Has Strong Options For Retaliation Against Israel, Including Going Nuclear
7Live Briefing: Russia Invades Ukraine
8Insta-Nazis: How Claims Of 'Rehabilitating Nazism' Are Molding A Militaristic Society In Putin's Russia
9Ground Drones: The Next Frontier Of Unmanned Combat In Ukraine
10Iran Disputes Reports Of First Delivery Of Russian Su-35 Fighter Jets
Subscribe