BAGHDAD, Iraq, June 15 (NNN-NINA) – U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, held a phone call with Iraqi Prime Minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, on Friday, over regional developments, amid rising dispute between Washington and Tehran.
During the phone call from Pompeo, Mahdi discussed with him “means to boost bilateral ties and exchanged views on regional developments against the backdrop of the crisis between the U.S. and Iran,” said a statement.
Mahdi “revealed Iraq’s stance towards the current crisis and its efforts to achieve calm and protect the interests of the peoples and countries of the region,” the statement added.
The Iraqi prime minister also “stressed the importance of developing bilateral ties and continuation of cooperation in all fields, most notably economic cooperation and counter-terrorism.”
For his part, Pompeo praised Iraq’s stance and its efforts to maintain security and stability and avoid escalation in the region.
On Thursday, Iraq strongly condemned the attacks on Saudi Arabia’s Abha airport and two ships in the Gulf of Oman, calling for dialogue to achieve stability in the Middle East.
The phone call came, amid escalating tension in the Middle East, after U.S. President, Donald Trump, decided not to re-issue the sanctions waivers for major importers to continue buying Iran’s oil when they expired in early May.– NNN-NINA
