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Intel: What Iraq is doing to avoid being caught in tug of war between US and Iran

The Iraqi embassy in Washington is working overtime to avoid getting caught up in the feud between the United States and Iran.

Barham Salih, Iraq's newly elected president, walks with Iraq's new Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi at the parliament headquarters, in Baghdad, Iraq October 2, 2018. REUTERS/Khalid al Mousily - RC1CC4B29CE0
Barham Salih, Iraq's newly elected president, walks with Iraq's new Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi at the parliament headquarters, in Baghdad, Iraq, Oct. 2, 2018. — REUTERS/Khalid al Mousily

The Iraqi embassy in Washington is working overtime to avoid getting caught up in the feud between the United States and Iran.

Speaking to reporters at the embassy mere hours after Baghdad announced the election of a new president and appointment of a new prime minister, the spokesman for Iraq’s Foreign Ministry took umbrage at Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s decision to close the US consulate in Basra. The US is blaming Iran-backed militias for rocket attacks near the compound last month.

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