A senior security official has said that Baghdad has urged Tehran not to target American interests on Iraqi soil amid clashes between Washington's ally Israel and Iran.
The government in Baghdad is a close ally of Tehran, but also a strategic partner of Iran's arch-enemy, the United States. There are about 2,500 American soldiers in Iraq.
A senior Iraqi security official said that the Iraqi government has asked Tehran not to attack its territory.
Iran was requested not to target Iraq. They have given us a positive assurance, saying that they are not authorized to speak on sensitive matters.
According to the official, Tehran has shown understanding on Baghdad's request .
Ahead of the current tensions that began Friday morning with a series of Israeli attacks on military and nuclear sites in Iran, Tehran threatened to attack US military bases in the region in the event of a conflict over the possible failure of nuclear talks with Washington.
During the Gaza war that started in October 2023, Israel has been pitted against the Iran-backed Palestinian group Hamas, while the Tehran-backed armed group has launched dozens of rockets and drone attacks targeting US troops in Iraq and neighboring Syria.
Before the wave of attacks began, the United States announced on Wednesday that it would cut staff at its embassy in Baghdad citing security reasons.
With the powerful Kateb Hezbollah warning of "more war in the region (Iraq)", many pro-Iranian groups in Iraq have called on Friday to speed up the withdrawal of US troops from the country.
