Iraq’s national security adviser in Iran to discuss US withdrawal 

Iraq’s National Security Adviser, Qassem Al-Araji, arrived in Iran to discuss the US’ withdrawal from his country, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed news site reported.

A senior Iraqi official told the site that Al- Araji met in Tehran with the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, Ali Shamkhani, and discussed the results of the third round of talks between Baghdad and Washington which were concluded last week.

According to the source, the Iranian officials expressed concern about the US’ lack of seriousness regarding withdrawing its forces from Iraq.

The source added that Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi asked Al-Araji to visit Iran to explain the situation amid fears that American interests may be targeted in Iraq.

READ: No timetable set for withdrawal of troops from Iraq, says Pentagon

Al-Araji will also meet with the Commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Ismail Qaani, and other Iranian officials.

Iraqi and American officials met last Wednesday and decided to limit the US forces’ role in Iraq to training and providing advice as well as support for Baghdad in organising early elections, scheduled on 10 October.

In 2020, the Iraqi parliament and government voted in favour of expelling foreign troops from the country following the assassination of the Commander of the Iranian Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani, and the leader of the Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces, Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport on 3 January.