US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo continues to pressure Iraq officials over a possible withdrawal of the US embassy from Baghdad after it was targeted several times by Katyusha rockets
On Saturday, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein held a phone call with Pompeo, which is the third of its kind that the latter has held with Iraqi officials over the same issue.
In a press release, the Iraqi Ministry said the talks focused on bilateral relations and the US decision to shutter its embassy as rocket attacks and roadside bombings continue to target US forces.
For his part, Hussein expressed concern about the pullout of the embassy decision saying that despite being a sovereign decision on the US side, it may lead to results that are not in the interest of the Iraqi people.
He also stressed that the Iraqi government has taken a number of security, organizational, political, and diplomatic measures to stop the attacks on the Green Zone and the Baghdad airport, adding that there will be tangible positive results in the near future.
Also, the US Secretary emphasized in a statement that US-Iraqi relations are “important” for both sides.
Pompeo further promised to take what he discussed with his Iraqi counterpart into consideration.
The two sides also discussed various future possibilities for the status of diplomatic missions in Baghdad,
