U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has met political leaders in Iraq on Wednesday to reassure them about a U.S. military withdrawal from Syria and warn that Washington’s arch-foe Iran remains a regional security threat.
In Baghdad, Pompeo met Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Hakim, Speaker of Parliament Mohammed al-Halbousi and President Barham Salih.
His tour follows an increase in tensions between Washington and Tehran after the Trump administration re-imposed sanctions and seeks to rally Arab allies to counter Iran’s sway, which is growing particularly in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon in recent years
The Secretary of State’s visit comes after President Trump’s abrupt announcement last month that he will pull all 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria, which caused alarm among U.S. allies in the region.
