TILLERSON DEMANDS IRANIAN ‘MILITIAS’ LEAVE IRAQ IS ISIS FIGHTING COMES TO END

TILLERSON DEMANDS IRANIAN ‘MILITIAS’ LEAVE IRAQ IS ISIS FIGHTING COMES TO END

SULAIMANI – U.S. State Secretary Rex Tillerson said on Sunday (October 22) Iranian “militias” need to leave Iraq as the fight against Islamic State (ISIS) militants are coming to an end.

“Certainly Iranian militias that are in Iraq, now that the fighting against (the Islamic State group) is coming to a close, those militias need to go home,” Tillerson said during a press conference in Riyadh, where the U.S. diplomat is holding talks with top Gulf officials.

"All foreign fighters need to go home,” he added.

Tillerson's Gulf visit comes as part of concerted efforts to curb Shia Iran's influence in the region including boosting the clout of Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia in Iraq, where Iran backs Shia militias fighting in the north.

Following years of tensions with Riyadh, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi hailed the meeting as an "important step toward enhancing relations", while King Salman warned of the dangers of "extremism, terrorism, as well as attempts to destabilize our countries."

Tillerson's visit also follows President Donald Trump's announcement of an aggressive strategy against Tehran and his refusal to certify the Iran nuclear.

(NRT/AFP)