Iran said the expulsion of US troops from the Middle East would be a suitable response to the assassinations of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who were killed in a US strike in Baghdad last year.
This came as Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein met with his Iranian counterpart Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani in Tehran on Wednesday.
“The expulsion of US troops from the region would be a suitable response to the US assassinations of Soleimani and Al-Muhandis," Zarif said.
He also praised the Iraqi government for its role in the judicial process of the assassinations, hoping that the perpetrators of the crime will be punished through legal proceedings.
For his part, Shamkhani echoed the same remarks, describing the US military presence in Iraq as a source of instability.
He stressed the importance of joint cooperation between countries in the region, stressing that stability is achieved through dialogue and cooperation without any foreign intervention.
Shamkhani highlighted the importance of the agreements signed between Tehran and Baghdad.
The Iraqi FM praised Iran for helping Iraq in its war against ISIS.
“The Iraqi nation appreciates Iran’s cooperation with Iraq to fight terrorists, especially ISIS. Iraq will never forget it.”
He also expressed Iraq’s intention to boost bilateral ties between both countries, affirming that no foreign party could influence the Iraqi-Iranian ties.
