Even One American in Iraq Is Too Many, Iran Chief Tells Iraqi President

DUBAI (Reuters) – America is an unreliable buddy, and Iraq mustn’t enable any U.S. troops on its territory, Iran’s Supreme chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei instructed visiting Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid on Saturday.

Iran, which has robust ties with Iraq, opposes the U.S. army presence on its borders in Iraq and the Gulf, saying Western army intervention is the foundation of insecurity within the area.

“Individuals will not be mates of Iraq. Individuals will not be mates with anybody and will not be even loyal to their European mates,” state media quoted Khamenei as saying.

U.S. nationwide safety businesses are investigating after a leak of categorized paperwork has steered america spied on allies together with Ukraine.

“Even the presence of 1 American in Iraq is an excessive amount of,” Khamenei instructed Rashid, who was in Tehran with a delegation to spice up ties between the 2 neighbours.

America has some 2,500 troops in Iraq to assist advise and help native troops in combating Islamic State, which in 2014 seized territory within the nation.

“Iraq’s most important effort is to deepen relations with Iran and resolve sure remaining points between the 2 nations,” Rashid was quoted as saying, with out referring to Iraq’s ties with america.

(Reporting by Dubai newsroom; modifying by Barbara Lewis)

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