US-led coalition no threat to Iraq neighbors: Official

BAGHDAD

The continued presence of U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq poses no threat to neighboring countries, Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohamed al-Halbousi said Thursday.

He made the remarks during an hours-long visit to Tehran, where he met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani; Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif; and Ali Shamkhani, secretary-general of Iran’s National Security Council.

According to a statement released by al-Halbousi’s office, Thursday’s talks in the Iranian capital tackled bilateral ties, proposals for activating parliamentary friendship committees, and coordination in the fight against terrorism.

On the U.S.-led coalition’s continued presence in Iraq, al-Halbousi said: “The coalition is here at the invitation of the Iraqi state. Baghdad still needs support to combat the continuing terrorist threat.”

However, he went on to assert, “the coalition does not pose a danger to neighboring countries, including Iran”.

Al-Halbousi also criticized the raft of U.S. sanctions recently re-imposed on Iran, reiterating Baghdad’s opposition to “any sanctions that hurt the [Iranian] people”.

He went on to hail Tehran’s continued support for Iraq in the latter’s ongoing fight against the Daesh terrorist group.

Last year, the U.S. re-imposed a raft of economic sanctions on Iran that primarily target the country’s banking and energy sectors.

Iraq imports gas from Iran to secure fuel for its power plants. It also imports a wide range of commodities, including foodstuffs, agricultural products and household appliances.

The total trade volume between the two neighbors hit $12 billion last year. Baghdad and Tehran have both expressed hope of raising this figure further despite U.S. sanctions.