ERBIL - US Secretary of State Mike Pempeo discussed during a phone call with Iraqi PM Adil Abdul-Mahdi on Friday the crisis between Washington and Tehran in the Middle East, the premier's office said in a statement.

The pair "exchanged views over the developments in the region on the backdrop of the crisis between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran," the statement reads, as quoted by Iraqi News.

According to the press release, Abdul-Mahdi reiterated Baghdad's readiness to defuse the deteriorated relations between the US and Iran.

Pompeo, in return, hailed "Iraq’s work on the preservation of security, stability and avoiding escalation," the statement concluded.

Tehran has a huge influence on the political process in Iraq while Baghdad views Washington as a close and historic friend, it is, therefore, making efforts to keep a balance between the two sides.

Bas News