BAGHDAD: Iraqi President Barham Salih said on Monday that President Donald Trump did not ask Iraq's permission for US troops stationed there to "watch Iran."
Speaking at a forum in Baghdad, Salih was responding to a question about Trump's comments to CBS about how he would ask troops stationed in Iraq to "watch" Iran.
US troops in Iraq are there as part of an agreement between the two countries with a specific mission of combating terrorism, Salih said, and that they should stick to that.
Trump said it was important to keep a US military presence in Iraq so that Washington can keep a close eye on Iran "because Iran is a real problem," according to a CBS interview broadcast on Sunday.
"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."
Iraq is in a difficult position as tensions between its two biggest allies, the United States and Iran, increase.
"It is of fundamental interest for Iraq to have good relations with Iran" and other neighbouring countries, Salih said.
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Iraqi president: Trump did not ask for permission to ‘watch Iran’
Iraqi president: Trump did not ask for permission to ‘watch Iran’
- Salih was responding to a question about Trump's comments to CBS about how he would ask troops stationed in Iraq to "watch" Iran
- US troops in Iraq are there as part of an agreement between the two countries with a specific mission of combating terrorism, Salih said
Iran says any US attack including limited strikes would be ‘act of aggression’
TEHRAN: Iran said Monday that any US attack, including limited strikes, would be an “act of aggression” that would precipitate a response, after President Donald Trump said he was considering a limited strike on Iran.
“And with respect to your first question concerning the limited strike, I think there is no limited strike,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said at a briefing in Tehran attended by an AFP journalist.
“An act of aggression would be regarded as an act of aggression. Period. And any state would react to an act of aggression as part of its inherent right of self-defense ferociously so that’s what we would do.”
“And with respect to your first question concerning the limited strike, I think there is no limited strike,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said at a briefing in Tehran attended by an AFP journalist.
“An act of aggression would be regarded as an act of aggression. Period. And any state would react to an act of aggression as part of its inherent right of self-defense ferociously so that’s what we would do.”
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