Iran’s Khamenei warns Iraqi PM not to count on US

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has advised Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi not to rely on the United States in its fight against Daesh.

“Unity is the most important factor in your gains against terrorists and their supporters”, Khamenei told Abadi during a visit to Iran on Thursday.  “Do not trust America … it will harm you in the future”.

“We are working to consolidate Iraq’s unity and we will not allow partition to threaten our country” Abadi is reported to have told the Iranian Supreme Leader.

During the visit to Tehran, Abadi also met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his First Deputy Eshaq Jahangiri.

Iraq is one of a few countries with close alliances with both the US and Iran. The two countries armed and trained pro-government forces in the battle against Daesh.

The US currently has about 5,000 troops in Iraq and provides aerial support, training and weapons to the Iraqi army, while Iran funds and trains the pro-government Iraqi Shia militias.

Read: Abadi defends role of Iranian-backed paramiltaries at meeting with Tillerson