Ali Khamenei to Iraqi President: Even One American in Iraq is Too Much

Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, said on Saturday during a meeting with Abdul Latif Rashid, the President of Iraq, "The United States is an unreliable friend, and Iraq should not allow any American forces to enter its territory." According to Reuters, Iran, which has strong ties with Iraq, opposes the military presence of the United States at its borders in Iraq and the Persian Gulf, viewing Western military intervention as the root of insecurity in the region. State media quoted Khamenei as saying, "Americans are not friends of Iraq; they have no friends at all, and they are not even loyal to their European allies." Khamenei emphasized to Rashid, who traveled to Tehran with a delegation to strengthen relations between the two neighbors, that "even the presence of one American in Iraq is too much." It is noteworthy that the United States has stationed about 2,500 troops in Iraq since 2014, when ISIS seized territory in the country, to assist local forces in the fight against ISIS. Abdul Latif Rashid, the President of Iraq, without mentioning Iraq's expanding relations with the U.S., stated, "Iraq's main effort is to deepen relations with Iran and resolve some remaining issues between the two countries." Earlier, Lloyd Austin, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, clarified in a press conference in Baghdad that U.S. forces are ready to remain in the country at the invitation of the Iraqi government. He added, "These forces participate in non-combat operations and play an important role in supporting the fight against terrorism in Iraq. This is a vital mission, and we are proud to support our Iraqi partners." Austin emphasized, "We have also discussed the long-term prospects for our defense partnership with Iraq; I am optimistic about the future of the partnership, and the United States will continue to strengthen and expand its relations in support of Iraq's security, stability, and sovereignty."